CHILDREN have been learning about Swansea's industrial past, after becoming the first to take a trip on the River Tawe in a new community boat.

The Black Prince was officially launched earlier this month after seven years of planning and fundraising by the Swansea Community Boat Trust. Its aim is to run trips up the river to teach people about the industry which helped establish Swansea as one of the busiest ports in the world.

Moored outside the National Waterfront Museum, it has already been enjoyed by members of the public. But yesterday it welcomed its first school trip, with pupils coming from Craigfelen Primary becoming the first to take a school outing on the vessel.

Boat manager Wayne Morgan said it has been a roaring success — regardless of the miserable weather.

He said: "We are trying to teach people about the history of the copper industry, and that is the benefit of being able to do it on a boat.

"You get the advantage of seeing the area from a new angle, from which many people would have been involved in the industry, instead of seeing it from a car or bus.

"The pupils from Craigfelen were fantastic. They were very well behaved, and asked some pertinent questions.

"It's been a long slog to get the project off the ground, but it's great to see it being used in this way."

The Black Prince is running tours for members of the public from Swansea Marina to the Morfa bascule bridge just south of the Liberty Stadium and back.

Craigfelen head teacher Alison Williams said: "It was a fantastic day out, despite the weather.

"It fits so well with the curriculum, ticks so many boxes and many of our children had never been on a boat before — I'd never been on the Tawe in one, and I've lived here all my life.

"It was definitely a ten out of ten and was fantastic for learning."

nino.williams@swwmedia.co.uk