Community vessel on show

A NAUTICAL charity that was gifted a new training vessel by Northumberland Freemasons has toured the north of the county to give funders the chance to see their donation in the community.

The Northumbria Unit of the Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) received its new rigid inflatable boat, named the Northumberland Freemason, in June.

Since then it has been used at the Tall Ships Race in Sunderland and at a Remembrance Day parade of sail at Newcastle’s. Volunteer officer Paul Casson, who heads the unit, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Northumberland Freemasons for this donation and thought that they might like to see the boat in the areas that it will be used.

“We’re planning more visits like this so that our work on the region’s rivers can be highlighted.”

The Northumbria Unit operates from Berwick to Hartlepool and provides invaluable support, both afloat and ashore to harbour authorities and at events such as the Tall Ships Race.

The Maritime Volunteer Service has 25 active units around the coasts and estuaries of the United Kingdom.

It aims to help to keep the country’s maritime tradition alive by training people in practical seamanship and engineering skills.

These skills are put to good use in the community at events such as Tall Ships, and at other times when called upon by the appropriate authorities.