Historic tug’s maiden trip after restoration
AHISTORIC Runcorn tug boat was due to make its maiden voyage yesterday (Wednesday, April 12) following a major campaign to restore it and bring it back into use.
The Daniel Adamson is now based at the Albert Dock in Liverpool but it spent its working life from 1922-1984 based in Runcorn, where it was maintained at the Old Quay.
Known by many as The Danny, the boat will return home to Runcorn as well as it traverses the region during 39 cruises this month.
Routes include heading from Liverpool to Manchester via the Manchester Ship Canal through Halton.
It will also cover The River Weaver Cruise to Anderton Boat Lift and travel from Liverpool to Ellesmere Port.
Its restoration more than 15 years of campaigning and fundraising by the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, whose efforts helped to secure £3.8m from The Heritage Lottery Fund.
It had been saved in 2004 when an enthusiast bought it for £1 to save it from being scrapped.
The boat was due to make its maiden voyage last week, when it was scheduled to head to Ellesmere Port.
A Daniel Adamson Preservation Society spokesman said The Danny will be a moving visitor and museum attraction which will be static at Albert Dock, Ellesmere Port and Acton Bridge as well as offering cruises and availability for private hire.
All the dates for cruises and static days are listed on www. thedanny.co.uk
The spokesman said that while static, The Danny will offer an interactive ‘story experience’, bringing alive unique tales through tours which include reallife stories from past boat workers, sights, sounds of the past and our own revealing and surprising storytellers.
Dan Cross, Daniel Adamson Preservation Society chairman and founder, said: “Our longawaited launch is going to be an emotional day for all the volunteers who have tirelessly campaigned and physically worked on restoring The Danny.
“Sadly, we have lost some of our volunteers along the way and our thoughts will be with them as we finally launch The Danny back on its own steam on the Mersey waterways.
“But her journey won’t stop there as she will now become a new tourist attraction for Liverpool, Cheshire and the North West.
“We need to thank the expertise and skills of Cammell Laird’s who have proven that its ship- building and also restoration is world-class and its craftsmanship can now been seen for hopefully hundreds of years to come on The Danny.”
The preservation society spokesman said: “The unique ship is a moving piece of history which proudly shows off its artdeco interior and Victorian engineering in a ship which pre-dates the Titanic.
“Supported by a team of volunteers who have re-built the vessel and its engines with the help of Cammell Lairds and funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund.
He added: “The ship now offers a wonderful insight into the style of the iconic luxury liners and evokes an interesting sense of nostalgia as many of the current volunteers once worked on her and still to this day are involved in its build and restoration and are pleased to see it stand proud once again on the Mersey waterways.”