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Daniel Adamson open for Heritage Day, 11 September

The event is sponsored by a generous £1000 donation from Peel Ports Mersey.
Guests of honour will be Paul Atterbury, of BBC TV’s Antiques Roadshow, who is patron of the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society. He will be joined by Gary Hodgson, Peel Ports Mersey’s managing director, his wife Patricia, and other Peel Ports managers.

There will be two performances by the Adamson Military Band, formed by Daniel Adamson, a leading Victorian engineer who was the driving force behind building the Manchester Ship Canal.

There will be a free vintage bus tour of Liverpool docks leaving and terminating from the event at Sandon Dock. The buses will give a guided tour of the dock estate, with a commentary by Stuart Wood, DAPS operations manager and ex-Senior Liverpool pilot.
This follows on from news that Liverpool Pilot Service will give their services free to Daniel Adamson when the tug-tender re-enters public passenger service it is hoped by 2012. Such generosity will give considerable savings in the operational costs.
Although the Birkenhead-built tug tender was built for ferry services between Ellesmere Port and Liverpool Pier Head, this priceless Edwardian vessel holds a secret. After being sold to Manchester Ship Canal to become its directors’ inspection vessel, she was refurbished with a two-deck art deco passenger saloon.
Paul Atterbury said: “When I first saw Daniel Adamson the ship exceeded my expectations.

“This is a very special maritime heritage project; it’s far more than just restoring another old steam tug and deserves to succeed.”

Gary Hodgson said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to offer our support to this fascinating project. The Daniel Adamson is an important part of our maritime history and her restoration is particularly timely, given that we are working hard to define smarter logistics solutions for our customers through integration of the Port of Liverpool and the Manchester Ship Canal, two entities that the Daniel Adamson served so well in her hey day.”

Iolo Thomas, Liverpool Pilot Service chairman, said: "Liverpool Pilots are delighted to be able to provide significant support for the River Mersey operations of this unique, historic Tug-Tender Daniel Adamson and look forward to being closely associated with this internationally acclaimed vessel.”

Dan Cross, DAPS chairman, said: “Since the society was launched back in 2004 with the aim of saving the vessel from the scrap mans torch and returning her to passenger carrying condition, the local community has been 100% supportive, none more so than local shipping related business’. Peel Ports have been exemplary in the way they have supported our present operations and our future operational plans which along with Liverpool Pilots makes the passage to the future that little easier.”

It is planned for Daniel Adamson to run trials next year and enter public service in 2012.

She will be licensed to carry 100 passengers on day excursions from Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal along the Rivers Mersey, Weaver and Manchester Ship Canal. Visitor numbers are restricted to 150 guests on 11 September, so booking is essential. To reserve a place, please contact Colin Brogan at: openday@danieladamson.co.uk or on: 07746 199844.