Originally Posted by
Howie
I don't really
understand the canal link fully. I know it is going to come across the front of the Pier Head and under the X-Museum into the Albert Dock but which dock
will be the terminus and where will the visiting narrowboats moor?
The
route:
http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/ll/liverpool-link.htm
The problem
with Liverpool Dock, British Waterways and Peel want them to be a shallow narowboat waterway. They make money charging to in-fill the docks. This all against
what Liverpool's history and heritage is about.
Few cities can have ocean going vesels moored in the centre. Liverpool is one of the few at the Pier
Head, Canning/Albert/Salthouse and we did have this capability in Princes, Princes Half-Tide and West Waterloo, until they were made shallow to be glorified
canals for narrowboats. This deep water berthing must be re-introduced for many reasons. The city is totally incompetent to have allowed all this to
happen.
The South End and Central Docks must be run as one - two companies own them. British Waterways are incompetent and should go. A dedicated
dock development and maintenance body is needed.
There are major issues. Making the docks all deep water again:
- Excavating the
Trafalgar Dock and taking all docks back to Princes bringing them back to deep water docks. That is their history, not of being shallow canals. The Manxman
Steamship Co, is discussing where the SS Manxman can be permanently berthed if she is saved. Even if money is found for her return to operational condition,
moorings for winter lay-up will be needed and Birkenhead looks most likely. If deepwater can be retained in Princes Half-tide and Waterloo then it opens up
their options for winter lay-up and embarkation. The ideal place would have been at Princes Dock's old Belfast steamship berth adjacent to the Crowne
Plaza. Princess was their first choice, berthed right in the city centre.
- A dredger or two can start at Salisbury Dock and work its way through -
no mess to the locals as the water prevents mud. The fill can be dumped into the Irish Sea. (or off the airport to make a runway in the river, that would
mean no planes overfly homes as all flight paths are over water and 24/7 operation).
- Make sure the south docks are dredged properly fior visiting
div>
deep water ships.
- Open up the wide Brunswick river lock to allow wide ocean going vessels into the south ends Docks - the Canning locks are narrow.
Imagine the Ark Royal on a visit.
This is a minimum to retain usable water spaces, then developing around the docks properly and professionally can
begin.
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