Cutty Sark: Two years after the disaster

Now on the second anniversary of the blaze and at about the half-way point in the restoration, things are taking shape.

Director of communications for the Cutty Sark Trust Stephen Archer said: "There's never been a time when we've thought we couldn't do it.

"We've often thought this is a big task but we've never lost faith. The reason for that is the spirit of the ship. It's a survivor.

"The ship is so important to London, to Britain and to the Commonwealth and the interest is enormous."

Documentary-makers have been converging on the Greenwich site over the last week and Mr Archer said one of the few positives to come from the blaze was the increased public interest.

Stephen said: "For three or four months we couldn't do anything with it because the police were on site carrying out their investigation. So nothing really started until autumn 2007.

"Since then the ship has been completely stripped down, and that's a big milestone.

"But in the last year there's a few things coming up which have caused us a lot of head scratching.

"A lot of iron work has been repaired and treated. That's all good.

"But on the other hand we have discovered a lot more corrosion than we expected under the wood which we were upset about and that's where the cost has increased."

The trust is still targeting completion for 2010 but resisting being too specific. It wants the tea clipper open to the public by 2011.

There are scores of people working on the restoration, providing an unexpected boost to specialist crafts.

Stephen said: "That includes people like shipwrights, or those in iron works and timber and so on. The great thing about the project is it is helping keep these great trades going."

Of the £32.5million already raised, the Heritage Lottery Fund has brought in about £22million and private donations, include one sum from shipping magnate Sammy Ofer, have boosted the amount.

Now the team are looking for innovative ways to raise the missing millions.

Stephen said: "We're now looking for commercial sponsors to participate from Canary Wharf and other areas including those brought in by the ship being so close to the Olympic site.

"We can do things with the name. I don't mean renaming the ship but maybe calling it

The HSBC Cutty Sark for example. Also we can project companies on to the sails and we've also got a massive hospitality space for use."

Meanwhile, the trust is still considering its position on the findings of the investigations, with the question of liability still hanging in the air.

However, the key focus for the team is to get the ship back in place as Greenwich's top tourist attraction and that is the motivation in this period of hard work.

Stephen, who has been with the trust for four years, said: "It's so important for this area.

"You cannot imagine that part of London without the Cutty Sark. I often drive past it and it's a sorry sight by comparison."

Click here to see more photos of the work.