AMBITIOUS plans for educational and pleasure river trips through Swansea's industrial heritage have come a step closer to being launched.

Swansea Community Boat Trust has submitted its business plan for the £80,000 venture to the Assembly for approval — and if it gets the green light from Cardiff Bay, the trips could soon set sail.

The trust wants to run boat trips along a two-mile stretch of the lower River Tawe — from Swansea Marina to the Liberty Stadium — through the heart of "Copperopolis" and the area's metalworking history.

Project manger John Davies said: "This is a really exciting idea that will help to bring history alive.

"Imagine stepping on to a boat at the Waterfront Museum, then sailing up the Tawe to see where the copperworks were, and learning all about the history of the sites as you go.

"You can see the quays where the copper ore was brought in, there's a couple of engine houses, the old laboratory buildings and you've got the rolling mill buildings.

"It was not just important in terms of Swansea — it's no exaggeration to say it's of world importance."

Swansea was the world centre of the copper industry in the 19th century, with Swansea sailors — known as "Cape Horners" — sailing to Chile for copper ore, which was then smelted on the banks of the Tawe.

Swansea University is currently undertaking a major research project into the influence of the copper industry on Swansea.

The trust has raised £20,000 towards the boat project, and has borrowed another £20,000. If the Assembly approves its business plan, £40,000 will be provided in match funding.

As well as school trips, the trust is planning to run charter and corporate cruises, as well as sailings for tourists to the area.

The trust has already had an offer accepted on a boat they want to buy, which until recently was running educational trips on the canals of Leeds — but that opens up another problem.

Mr Davies said: "The boat is ideal for our needs — but now we need someone with a crane capable of lifting a 33-ton boat into Swansea Marina."

jason.evans@swwmedia.co.uk