From Banksy to Warhol and now the Armada: Belfast shipping firm leads delicate relocation of priceless artefacts ahead of new DNA Museum opening
Pack & Send Belfast East manages crane lifts, custom packaging and secure transit of historic treasures from Londonderry’s Tower Museum to Belfast
Specialist shipping company Pack & Send Belfast East has completed first phase of a complex artefact relocation project for Derry City and Strabane District Council.
The relocation involves the careful removal and transport of fragile museum pieces from the Tower Museum in Londonderry to conservation facilities in Belfast.
The artefacts, which include items from the Armada Shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera exhibition, have been temporarily relocated to the Ulster Museum as part of preparatory work ahead of the launch of the new DNA Museum, currently under construction in the Ebrington area of the city.
Working alongside the Council’s museum and engineering teams, in partnership with conservation staff from National Museums NI, Pack & Send Belfast East was appointed to oversee the secure transport of high-value and historically significant objects requiring bespoke packaging and meticulous handling.
The operation involved the removal of windows from the Tower Museum to allow for crane access, the dismantling of internal fixtures, and the waterproofing of selected items before they could be lowered from the building and loaded for transit.
Pack & Send Belfast East is part of a network of service centres across the UK and was selected for the project due to its specialist experience in the shipment of fragile, large, awkward and valuable items.
The company is an approved service provider to LAPADA, the UK’s largest association of professional art and antiques dealers, and has handled works by artists including Banksy, Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol.
Work is now underway to progressively move and conserve the collection as part of the council’s plans for the development of the DNA Museum. Phase 2 of the project is expected to involve more detailed cataloguing and digitisation of artefacts, alongside initiatives to engage the public through interpretation and outreach. The artefacts will return to Londonderry for installation in the DNA Museum, due to open in 2027.
Pack & Send Belfast East store owner Sam Ireland said: “We were delighted to be appointed to assist with the removal and transport of such historically important material.
"This type of project plays to our strengths, designing and building custom packaging, managing high-risk transit, and liaising with multiple partners to ensure nothing is left to chance. We’re proud to have supported this important step in preserving and preparing these items for future public display.”