Heritage award for restored steam ship
AHISTORIC Runcorn steam ship that was saved from the scrap heap and lovingly restored by volunteers has been presented with the Engineering Heritage Award by the Institution Of Mechanical Engineers (IME).
Launched from Birkenhead in 1903, the Daniel Adamson was honoured for being the last operational coal-fired tug in the UK.
Bought for £1 by an enthusiast in 2004 who wanted to save the dilapidated boat, was restored by dedicated volunteers backed by a £3.8m Heritage Lottery Fund grant and support from shipping firm Cammell Laird.
After a working life of over 80 years during which she was berthed for the most part in Runcorn, she has now found another lease of life as a cruise boat with the chance for visitors to learned about the engines and boilers.
Previous winners of Engineering Heritage Awards include the E-Type Jaguar and Concorde.
In Northern England, past winners include Cragside, the first house in the world to be lit using hydro-electric power, and the Anderton Boat Lift, another engineering achievement on Cheshire’s canals.
The Danny is the 114th recipient of the award.
Gareth Jones, IME regional chairman, who presented the award, said: “The Danny is a beautiful coal-fired steam tug; a real survivor from an age when canals were the UK’s trade arteries.
“Her two Liverpoolbuilt steam engines and twin screws gave her the high manoeuvrability and power needed for work on canals and rivers.
“The ship has been on a quite a journey in recent years. ●
“From a complete wreck, it has successfully navigated itself to join the National Historic Fleet, the maritime version of Grade I listed building status, alongside vessels of national importance such as the Cutty Sark.
“This award builds on that achievement and honours not just the hard work of the Liverpudlian shipwrights at the start of the 20th century, but also the efforts of the volunteers who have invested so much time and effort into restoring the ship to such a fantastic condition.”
Dan Cross, Daniel Adamson Preservation Society chairman, said: “Gaining the award is very important and momentous to us as it is recognition which relates to engineering and hopefully its future.
“We have preserved an engine for the future as well as a ship and all our volunteers and members are passionate about both.”