With STS Lord Nelson, the pair are the only tall ships in the world that were built so that both disabled and non-disabled people can sail as crew, not passengers.

Features that cannot be found on other ships include wheelchair lifts throughout, a unique ascender systems that allow wheelchair users to go aloft (either assisted or by their own efforts), a speaking compass for those with visual impairments, hearing loops, adjustable furniture for those with mobility difficulties, and a joystick to help individuals with dexterity limitations to steer the ship.

Launched in 2000, the sailing vessel Tenacious is the largest wooden tall ship built in the United Kingdom in the last 100 years.

A press release from the Belfast Maritime Festival on 22 June 2006 announced that the Tenacious was "the largest wooden ship still afloat".

[3] In December 2023 the JST announced that Tenacious's owning company was insolvent and had been put into liquidation and that all future cruises had been cancelled.