I fell in love with an old derelict
Oct 29 2007 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post
Cathy Roberts with her boat the France Hayhurst in the Albert Dock _320
Historic boats survive because of dedicated band of volunteers putting in thousands of man hours
THE Mersey is blessed with two coal-fired tugs of immense historical importance, both berthed in Liverpool’s Sandon Dock.
The lighter (as in barge) towing tug Kerne, which is already in operational condition, and Daniel Adamson, a larger tug tender which is undergoing complete restoration.
In a peerless UK project, Daniel Adamson, built in 1903 at Tranmere, will be restored to full operational condition.
She will be capable of carrying passengers as in her heyday when the Manchester Ship Canal’s directors’ inspection vessel, based at Runcorn.
Restoration started three years ago and "The Danny" will return to her Class V passenger capacity of 100 plus crew. She will have to meet the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s stringent regulation and the vessel will only sail in designated waters.
"Luckily, a considerable area of waterways are accessible to the vessel in the region, besides earning her keep as an excellent static facility, too," reports John Luxton, of Daniel Adamson Preservation Society.
The ship was plucked from dereliction at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum and impending demolition by her Manchester Ship Canal owners, thanks to Mersey tugman Dan Cross and his merry band.
These highly-skilled volunteer preservationists are grappling with wedding Danny’s historical integrity with the detailed safety MCA requirements.
Luckily, the vessel’s age and design gives some leeway, but it is much harder to achieve this duality in an operating vessel than a static, historically accurate vessel permanently moored in a museum.
Modern, legal life-saving equipment, communication systems, sanitary arrangements and practical access must be incorporated beneath Danny’s period exterior, which includes a stunning two-deck art deco lounge.
More details about the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society are available from Neil Marsden, tel: 0151 608 2868; email: neil.marsden3@ntlworld.com; website: www.danieladamson.co.uk
Some of these problems have already been overcome by the dedicated volunteers operating the delightful little tug, Kerne.
Built in 1913 at Montrose, Kerne (which means Gaelic footsoldier) was retired by the Liverpool Lighterage Co in 1970 and saved from scrap by the North Western Steamship Co, formed by enthusiasts for the task. Kerne is now an extremely rare example of a once-common type of operational dock steam tug. As with other complex preservation projects of historic working objects, Kerne only survives because of a dedicated band of volunteers putting in thousands of man hours.
In 1990, Kerne won first prize in the Steam Heritage Awards marine category. For further information about Kerne, call Bob Adam, tel: 0151 639 9338; or visit website www.tugkerne.co.uk
