£3.8 million grant to restore canal tug

A £3.8 million grant has been made by the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the unique MSC steam tug / tender the Daniel Adamson.

Built in 1903 as the Ralph Brocklebank for the Shropshire Union Railways & Canal Co. her initial role was to tow barges and carry people and livestock across the Mersey. Bought in 1921 the Manchester Ship Canal, the boat was renamed and fitted with two sumptuous art deco saloons and an elevated promenade deck in 1936. These highly unusual features for a vessel of this type, has led her to be described by leading experts as a unique example of a miniature transatlantic liner of the 1930’s.

She has carried VIP guests such as King Fuad of Egypt, the Danish Royal family and General Dwight D Eisenhower when they visited the area.

Taken out of service 30 years ago she lay in Ellesmere Port but fortunately was saved 11 years ago by campaigners of the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society (DAPS) to whom she is affectionally known as the ‘Danny’.

Since June 2014 the Danny has been moored in Liverpool’s Albert Dock (above) where DAPS volunteers  have attracted a staggering 13,110 recorded visitors and raised almost £9,000 in donations. Now closed to the public she awaits a date to be towed across the River Mersey to the Cammell Laird shipyard where restoration contract work will start. On completion she will be used by DAPS for education work in the Liverpool area and during visits to other venues in the north west.

Thanks to Harry Arnold and Waterway Images for this report and images.