2007-08 was a remarkable year for the National Maritime Museum. In its annual review (2007-08), just published, the highlight is the generous gift of £20m by shipping magnate, Sammy Ofer, which is enabling the Museum to rapidly progress its South West Wing project. This will feature a new south entrance, a major special exhibition space, accessible archive and greatly enhanced visitor amenities. The new extension will be named the Sammy Ofer Wing in recognition of this very significant support. Together with a £5m award by the Heritage Lottery Fund (announced in summer 2008), the Museum is now on track to open the new wing in 2012, the year it hosts the equestrian Olympics events in Greenwich.

In 2007-08, visitor figures continued their trend of healthy growth – up over 9% on last year. In all, the Museum welcomed over 1.78 million people, breaking last year’s record total and making it one the top ten leading visitor attractions for the UK for the first time. Its website attracted nearly 9.7 million users and some 289,000 people participated in its learning programmes.

During the year, the Museum opened a major new permanent gallery, Atlantic Worlds, linked to the Bicentenary of the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The gallery explores the interrelationships, connections and exchanges created between Britain, Africa and the Americas between 1600 and 1850 and looks at the impact of empire on three continents.

2007-08 was also a strong year for the collections programme, with artefacts worth £637,000 donated or bequeathed to the Museum.

The new Astronomy Centre and Peter Harrison Planetarium at the Royal Observatory enjoyed a highly successful first full year of operation. The development of the public programme at the Observatory and the appointment of new Public Astronomer, Dr Marek Kukula, helps set the framework for the Museum’s role as a leading venue for International Year of Astronomy in 2009.

Also looking ahead, in May 2009, the Museum opens a new exhibition, North-West Passage; an Arctic Obsession. This will be accompanied by a new planetarium show, Ice Worlds.