Ship shape (From Warrington Guardian)

Ship shape

A CHERISHED tugboat that once ferried about visiting kings, princes and generals is being restored with the help of Halton Council.

The 103-year-old Daniel Adamson, the country's only twin-screw steam-powered tug, needs £70,000 spending on a survey to see if it can carry passengers once more.

And the council's area panel is chipping in £5,000 to help maritime enthusiasts from the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society achieve their dream.

"We still have some way to go before the vessel can be fully restored," said the Merseyside-based society's Colin Leonard. "But subject to the results of these surveys and future funding we aim to have her in steam before the end of 2008."

Built in 1903, the 'tug/tender' was based in Runcorn from 1922 to 1984 where it was used by the Manchester Ship Canal Company as an inspection launch for visiting bigwigs.

During this time she was moored at the Old Quay works in Runcorn and crewed and maintained largely by local men.

Over the decades she carried many visiting foreign dignitaries, including General Eisenhower, King Faud of Egypt and the Crown Prince of Norway.

Now officially a designated historic vessel, she has already had around 11,000 hours spent on her by volunteers from the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, some of them former crew.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has also provided £55,000 towards the project.