Riverboat to launch as trips edge closer
A PLAN to bring boat trips to the River Derwent in the centre of Derby is to take a step forward today when a purpose-built riverboat will be launched by the Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust.
Named after the Derbyshire engineer who built the Derby Canal, the Outram has been designed and built by a local boatyard and canal trust volunteers.
The 16-tonne craft will be lowered by crane from Cathedral Green, outside the Museum of Making. Following its test launch, the Outram will remain moored in the Derwent over the winter while trials are carried out, volunteer crew are trained and safety measures are installed along the river.
The trust will launch return passenger trips from the city centre to Darley Abbey in the spring, following a successful test at the recent Shardlow Inland Port Festival.
Volunteers at the Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust built the Outram from scratch in just over six months but its launch was delayed by the pandemic.
Built in the style of a traditional narrowboat, it is wider than normal to accommodate wheelchair users. It is quiet and environmentally friendly. Onboard solar panels top up its power source of lead carbon batteries. And working with graduate manufacturing engineers from Rolls-Royce, the Trust has developed a small remote-controlled boat called ARTEMIS, which can be operated from the Outram, to collect plastic waste from the river. Outram will be able to carry up to 12 passengers on a 45-minute round-trip on the Derwent.
It will be accompanied by a recorded commentary by actor Sir David Suchet, promoting Derby’s historic role in the cultural and industrial development of the country and the focus will be on entertaining families with interactive displays.
Chris Madge, trust chairman, said: “We are delighted to be able to get our boat onto the river. We had hoped to launch in 2020, but a narrowboat is no place for people to socially distance.
“At last we can look forward to the prospect of welcoming passengers and exciting them with the technology on board, the story of Derby and our canal, and providing a tranquil journey on a beautiful river in a lovely setting.
“Being able to offer passenger trips will be an important step for us. Our vision for the future includes making the river navigable south of the city centre into Pride Park, with the creation of the Derby Arm, a huge lift which would transfer boats from the Derwent to a restored Derby Canal.
“We are a volunteer organisation that depends on support from the community and businesses. This venture will enable us to garner greater support and promote our longer term aspirations to make Derby a destination for boaters and tourists.”
Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust was founded in 1993 with the aim of restoring a 12.5-mile stretch of canal between Derby and Sandiacre to connect to the Trent and Mersey and Erewash Canals. Derby City Council is supporting the Trust in launching the Outram and is looking at the river with its regeneration plans.
Councillor Ross McCristal, council cabinet member for leisure, culture, tourism and wellbeing, said: “Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust has great ambition, and I’m pleased to be supporting the testing.
“A river can be a city’s greatest natural asset but historically, we’ve not embraced the Derwent and have certainly not made the most of it. That’s changing, with major regeneration projects like Our City Our River under way.
“Projects like this, and proposed regeneration work in the area, will help Derby embrace and turn towards the river. I believe they have the potential to fundamentally change our city centre – making Derby a more vibrant place, opening new spaces and opportunities for residents, visitors and businesses.”