Rotting Wrecks To Be Lifted From Bowling Harbour

24 March 2006

Ten sunken vessels thought to include a World War II minesweeper, torpedo boat and steam trawler will be lifted from Bowling Harbour as part of a £1.5 million programme of improvements at the western entrance to the historic Forth & Clyde Canal .

The boats which are a safety hazard and eyesore will be broken up and removed by international marine specia lists Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd on behalf of British Waterways Scotland .

In addition to the boat removal the major works programme will see the creation of an expansive public events area, new moorings and car parking, the construction of a new boat storage area and facility block, and a clean up of the railway arches.

Scott Gaherty , Project Manager, British Waterways Scotland , said: "The work at Bowling forms part of the ongoing revitalisation of Scotland 's reopened Lowland canal corridor with the boat removal operation at Bowling representing one part of a bigger project to clean up the whole harbour area and improve facilities for boaters and other users."

Fife based Briggs Marine will use a 65 tonne excavator mounted on a jack barge with a hydraulic grab to safely break up and remove the ships from the water. Once lifted out of the harbour the boats will be transported by barge up the River Clyde where they will be transported to a landfill site. Any salvageable steel will be recycled.

A historian has been brought on board to help identify the two main boats which have no discernable features or name plates.

Once information has been gathered, it is hoped the propellers from the 30-metre long minesweeper, torpedo boat and steam trawler will be returned to the harbour where they will be displayed alongside informative historical plaques.

Funding for the Bowling Harbour works programme has come from the Scottish Executive and Europe with support from West Dunbartonshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire.

The programme, which has utilised a range of new and reclaimed materials, is scheduled for completion in April.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of British Waterways Scotland by Wave PR Ltd. For further information contact Chris Bell, Tel: 0141 303 8390 Mobile : 07974 692 330

Note to Editors

British Waterways Scotland

Responsibility for inland waterways in Scotland is a devolved matter, with funding for British Waterways' Scottish activities coming from the Scottish Executive. In Scotland the 137 mile (220km) canal network includes the Caledonian, Crinan, Forth & Clyde, Union and Monkland canals.

British Waterways Scotland works in partnerships with local authorities, voluntary groups, private companies and other government agencies to protect and enhance the waterways and benefit the communities through which they run.

The organisation balances the conservation of the country's heritage and environment with developing commercial opportunities to generate income to reinvest in the waterways for further sustainable regeneration.