All aboard to sail into city's past
SEVEN years in the making, a new maritime production is being launched in Swansea.
And Swansea Community Boat Trust hopes the people of the city and further afield will keep it afloat.
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With the Black Prince are boat master, Chrissie Joyce (front) with, from left, boat manager, Wayne Morgan and Swansea Community Boat chairman, Charles White and founding member, John Davies
The charity's barge, the Black Prince, is now fully shipshape and ready to take up to 50 passengers on trips up the River Tawe from its mooring outside the National Waterfront Museum.
The trust will be running weekend trips only in the winter, and hopes schools and other groups will take the opportunity of seeing Swansea from a novel vantage point.
For trust chairman Charles White, getting to this point hasn't been plain sailing.
Grant setbacks, securing a mooring berth, training two captains and obtaining relevant licences were challenges — as was the approximate £100,000 price tag of the 23-tonne vessel.
"It has been a long-running saga," said a relieved Mr White.
"We are taking bookings and people are ringing. Sailing will take place after December 4."
For one of the two captains, boat master Chrissie Joyce, the Black Prince is familiar ground. She used to work below deck when the boat, then called Verdopolis, plied waterways in Yorkshire. She then worked on deck and trained as a boat master but returned to her home in Northern Ireland when the vessel was brought to Swansea.
After a summer taking passengers around Belfast's docks, where the Titanic was built, Miss Joyce successfully applied to be reunited with her old boat when the trust advertised for a skipper.
"I came to Swansea in September — it was my first time in Wales," said the 49-year-old. "I've now got a lovely little house in Hafod and my daughter has joined me."
In the past she has helped strip the barge down, refurbish and repaint her. "I know her quite intimately," she said.
The Black Prince will sail as far as the old bascule bridge, near the Liberty Stadium, with three crew on board at all times. Passengers will learn more about the area's significance during Swansea's industrial heyday.
Mr White thanked Visit Wales and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for their backing, plus Swansea Council, the Environment Agency, Swansea Museum, the Waterfront Museum, Interserve, Associated British Ports and all the volunteers.
He also paid tribute to Miss Joyce and boat manager Wayne Morgan.
"The pair have put in an incredible amount of work," said Mr White.
www.scbt.org.uk.
richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk
2 Comments
by drwolfuk1
Thursday, December 01 2011, 12:32PM
“If the Swansea Canal in Swansea upto Clydach had not been destroyed by West Glamorgan and its pathetic road building of the A4067, this boat could have sailed further up the Swansea Valley. Look how well the Neath and Tennant Canals are used. The problem now of course it will cost tens of millions of pounds to restore the Swansea Canal for use. Neath & Port Talbot Council intend wo withdraw protection of the canal in its area. This part is a Nature Reserve. In Pontardawe there is two miles of the canal which walkers, dog walkers and cyclists use the very pleasant towpath, however where roads cross this canal it is culverted, it is also culverted from Pontardawe to Trebanos, from Trebanos to the aquaduct in Clydach again except for a small length the towpath is again very pleasant walking and cycling. West Glamorgan and Swansea Council did not know or did not want to know the true value of this canal, the same applies to all the Swansea Valley Railways that were destroyed, these could have taken lots of the heavy loads using the A4067 which is completely unsuitable for the amount of traffic using it, which is about to increase by at least 24 lorry loads proposed by Neath & Port Talbot County Council.”
by drwolfuk1
Thursday, December 01 2011, 12:29PM
“If the Swansea Canal in Swansea upto Clydach had not been destroyed by West Glamorgan and its pathetic road building of the A4067, this boat could have sailed further up the Swansea Valley. Look how well the Neath and Tennant Canals are used. The problem now of course it will cost tens of millions of pounds to restore the Swansea Canal for use. Neath & Port Talbot Council intend wo withdraw protection of the canal in its area. This part is a Nature Reserve. In Pontardawe there is two miles of the canal which walkers, dog walkers and cyclists use the very pleasant towpath, however where roads cross this canal it is culverted, it is also culverted from Pontardawe to Trebanos, from Trebanos to the aquaduct in Clydach again except for a small length the towpath is again very pleasant walking and cycling. West Glamorgan and Swansea Council did not know or did not want to know the true value of this canal, the same applies to all the Swansea Valley Railways that were destroyed, these could have taken lots of the heavy loads using the A4067 which is completely unsuitable for the amount of traffic using it, which is about to increase by at least 24 lorry loads proposed by Neath & Port Talbot County Council.”