AN HISTORIC Mersey tug will be the first ship to take part in a national scheme to open unusual heritage venues.
The 106-year-old Daniel Adamson, the UK’s only steam-powered tug tender, will be a star attraction at Liverpool’s Heritage Open Days, run by English Heritage, on Saturday, September 14.
It will be the first public chance to see restoration progress on Daniel Adamson, a passenger-carrying – or tender – tug, acquired for preservation in 2004.
The tug tender was latterly based at Runcorn as the Manchester Ship Canal directors’ inspection vessel.
It was named after the MSC’s engineer founder, but retired in 1984 with boiler trouble and was laid up at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum.
When it was threatened with scrapping, the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society was formed to buy it off MSC for £1, restoring it at Sandon Dock, in Liverpool.
The Adamson Military Band, from Dukinfield, originally formed by Adam-son’s employees, will play by the tug on September 12.
The event is sponsored by Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird, shipyard, which adjoins the Tranmere slipway from which Daniel Adamson was launched in 1903.
The tug, formerly called Ralph Brocklebank, sailed on the Shropshire Union Canal and Railway Company’s Ellesmere Port-Liverpool Manchester Dock passenger ferry service.
Although an Edwardian ship, Daniel Adamson has a double-deck art deco-style passenger saloon.
An MSC director was inspired by Cunard’s 1936 flagship Queen Mary I and the saloon was installed by master joiners from the ocean liner’s Clydebank builders, John Brown & Co.
Daniel Adamson Preservation Society chairman Dan Cross said: “This is a fantastic chance for people to see what we have achieved.
“We hope to have ‘Danny’ running passenger cruises under her own steam again on the Mersey, Weaver and ship canal by 2012.
“Any visitors inspired to join us as a volunteer to help restoration can come along, have a look and a chat.
“Unfortunately, with limited space, visitors must pre-book.”
THE Daniel Adamson Heritage Open Day takes place at Sandon Dock, off Regent Road, on September 12, from 10.30am-3pm. The band plays at 11.30am and 1.30pm. Admission is free, but pre-booking is essential for limited places. Please call Colin Brogan on 07746 199 844.
