A museum ship, also called a memorial ship, is a ship that has been preserved and converted into a museum open to the public for educational or memorial purposes. Some are also used for training and recruitment purposes, mostly for the small number of museum ships that are still operational and thus capable of regular movement.
Several hundred museum ships are kept around the world, with around 175 of them organised in the Historic Naval Ships Association though many are not naval museum ships, from general merchant ships to tugs and lightships. Many, if not most, museum ships are also associated with a maritime museum.
HMS Victory is the only ship of the line that is preserved.
KMD Jylland is one of two armoured frigates that are preserved. The other being HMS Warrior berthed at Portsmouth.
Georgios Averof is the only armored cruiser that is preserved
Mikasa is the only pre-dreadnought battleship that is preserved.
The Polish destroyer ORP Błyskawica is currently preserved as a museum ship in Gdynia.
German submarine U-995 of World War II used as a museum. Note the two openings made in the starboard side to allow the entry and exit of visitors.
USS Yorktown was the first aircraft carrier converted into a museum.