A FLOATING museum shaped like an ocean liner with space to display Southampton's huge maritime heritage.

That is the latest idea for generating Southampton's elusive Wow factor.

The ground-breaking project is the latest idea to be thrown into the debate about how Southampton can create an international buzz.

It would involve a giant floating concrete pontoon moored at the end of Town Quay.

City leisure and tourism chiefs say they would not rule out the scheme.

The museum would have space to berth the tug tender Calshot, the Shieldhall and the historic British Military Powerboat collection currently housed in the former Husband's shipyard at Marchwood.

The building itself would be shaped like a giant ocean liner with dummy funnels and handrails.

It would house bars and restaurants as well as having space to show-off the city's maritime and aviation collections.

City tourist chiefs were told about the proposed scheme earlier this month.

City council Cabinet member for tourism and leisure, Councillor Peter Wakeford, says the idea has not been ruled out.

He said: "It is receiving consideration as to whether it is a viable scheme or not. We have not disregarded it."

The museum is the brainchild of Hampshire businessman Kevin Schollar. He came-up with the radical scheme as a way of generating a Wow factor for the city - and safeguarding its priceless heritage at the same time.

He said: "With a good architect, it could be made to look Wow with the appearance of something for which Southampton is associated.

"It concentrates all the heritage vessels on one site, is close to the city centre, is an attractive outlook on to passing ships and because of the open water aspect will draw visitors as Gunwharf does in Portsmouth."

The radical idea has also been backed by Richard Hellyer - the operations manager of the British Military Powerboat Trust.

The trust is due to leave its home at Marchwood in September next year and fears its collection of historic vessels may have to be broken-up because there is not space to house them under one roof.

He said: "One of our boats has already left Southampton because there was nowhere for us that would accept it. I am not going to turn down anything."