Steam Tug/ Tender "DANIEL ADAMSON"- Media Release

The 1903 Steam Tug Tender and former Railway Steamer, the "Daniel Adamson" was saved from scrapping in 2004 and a media release detailing the owning society's recent excellent progress with HLF and local Council support is detailed below:


RESTORATION OF 1903 BUILT STEAM TUG-TENDER “DANIEL ADAMSON”
COMES A STEP CLOSER THANKS TO FIRST ROUND PASS FROM HERITAGE
LOTTERY FUND.

Liverpool 15th January 2010

Britain's last steam tug tender, Daniel Adamson, has got the crucial go-ahead to operate from
Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal.
Previously the province of 3,000 passenger mega liners like Queen Mary 2 and Crown Princess,
the 106-year-old Daniel Adamson can carry just 100 passengers. This is a major turning point for
the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society (DAPS) charity.
DAPS recently passed the initial stage towards getting an £830,000 grant from the Heritage
Lottery Fund, and can now develop its grant application for the final second stage with the
assistance of HLF's mentoring scheme. If successful, the HLF grant will cover much of the tug
tender's restoration, including vital boiler refurbishment, plus educational outreach programmes.
The HLF previously awarded two project planning grants in 2006 and 2008.
It is hoped Daniel Adamson will undergo trials next year and return to her former stamping
grounds of the River Mersey, Weaver Navigation and Manchester Ship Canal in 2012. Last year
this Edwardian tug-tender was believed to be the only ship in the Heritage Open Days scheme
and was visited by scores of people at Sandon Dock, Liverpool. Daniel Adamson started life as a
ferry and barge towing tug between Ellesmere Port and Liverpool Pier Head, before sale to
Manchester Ship Canal Co in 1934 for use as a tug and directors' inspection ship.
DAPS has also received an £8,500 grant from Prism and £10,000 from the Pilgrim Trust, which
both aid heritage and museum projects. This will go towards the restoration of the engine room
and its two steam compound engines built by John Jones of Liverpool, in 1903.
Dan Cross, DAPS chairman who succeeded Tony Hirst in September 2009, says: "The Society is
extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for its continued support. HLF's also very kindly
offered two specialist mentors to assist DAPS with the Stage Two application. While finalising the
application this year, we will seek match funding of £150,000. Likewise, we're thrilled Liverpool
City Council will allow Daniel Adamson to use Liverpool Cruise Terminal for our passengers. It's
another vital piece in a jigsaw to get Daniel Adamson steaming again.
Keith Blundell, Liverpool City Council Head of Tourism, says: "We are delighted to help the Daniel
Adamson Preservation Society with its voyages. It was always in the business plan that leisure
craft could use the cruise terminal, so it's great we can help to bring back this very historic Mersey
ship into public service."
Martin Heighton, National Historic Ships advisory committee director, says: "I'm so pleased at this
outcome as we gave initial advice to DAPS about HLF which they acted on. This is an excellent
project undertaken by first-rate people on a ship which is of the utmost national importance. Not
only is this Britain's last steam tug-tender, but its two-deck art deco-style passenger saloon was
built as a mini-copy of the first Queen Mary liner's interior in 1936. As we have no classic ocean
liners left, this combination makes Daniel Adamson priceless." ENDS

For Media Relations enquiries please contact Peter Elson on -07717 733 257 Or e-mail him at :
media@danieladamson.co.uk
For other enquiries please contact the Chairman, Dan Cross on 07979 865 391 or e-mail him at:
chairman@danieladamson.co.uk
For Membership enquiries please contact John Broomby, Membership Secretary on: 0161-969-
2903 or e-mail membership@danieladamson.co.uk Membership enquiries can also be sent to him
at: 28 Brookfield Drive, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 6QR
Note to editors:
 Daniel Adamson is Britain's only steam-powered, coal-fired tug-tender. The ship was built as Ralph
Brocklebank, by the Tranmere Bay Development Co, at Birkenhead, Wirral in 1903.
 With two sister ships, the tug-tender ran a passenger ferry and barge towing service for her owners, the
Shropshire Union Railway & Canal Co, from its Ellesmere Port terminus to Manchester Dock, Liverpool.
 In 1934 the ship was sold to the Manchester Ship Canal and was renamed and rebuilt as the directors'
inspection vessel.
 In 1936 a lavish art deco style double-deck saloon was fitted by John Brown & Co, Clydeside, and, although
badly water damaged, will be restored to its original state.
 The MSC laid-up Daniel Adamson in 1984 after the boiler required repair work and the vessel was moved to
Ellesmere Port Boat Museum.
 However, when MSC decided to scrap the vessel after vandalism problems, the current trust was formed and
bought the ship for £1 in 2004.
 Daniel Adamson is scheduled to be returned to working order in 2011.
 Following successful trials, Daniel Adamson

Dan Cross- Chairman

 

Wll done Dan and co . . another piece of the jigsaw as you say!

Chris

 

Hi Chris,
Thanks - yes we are getting there. All the time the project and the vessel are gaining recognition.
Busy year ahead me thinks!
Dan

 

Good News - it has been relayed to other quarters in an attempt to get more sailings out of, and not just on, the river.

 

Hello Frank,
Good news indeed, we have been speaking to Liverpool City Council for over a year now and feel we are finally making good progress.
Good luck with Waverley/ Balmoral.
Dan