Maritime Heritage Maritime Futures project update

Published: 3rd Dec

120 years of tugboats lined up in the historic Canning Dock in Liverpool this November, as part of our Maritime Heritage Maritime Futures project with young people from across the Liverpool City Region. The vessels spanned from the 1903 Daniel Adamsom to Svitzer's Trident, a 2016 tugboat which runs on HVO fuel.

The second learning event for the students who are working towards a vessel design challenge next summer, this event allowed the young people to explore how vessel propulsion has changed across time, and to talk to naval architects and decarbonisation experts about how vessels are being made fit for the future. 

As well as the chance to visit the engine rooms of all three vessels, participants in the project also had the chance to walk around the dock with the head of the Merseyside Maritime Museum and to find out about its long history. 

The project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and aims to connect young people with their maritime heritage, and with the possible futures open to them within the contemporary maritime sector. The project has engendered astounding support, not only from heritage partners, but also from the maritime sector. It was completely unprecedented for a commercial towage operation to take a vessel into the city centre and out of operation for an education event, but Svitzer's support for the young people was amazing.

The students were enthusiastic about the opportunity to get on board the Danny, and to learn more about maritime. One of our favourite pieces of student feedback explained that "This project has made me feel hopeful about sustainability and the future. I can't wait to see where it goes.' We can't wait to see where the students take it either!