Canal boats come back to Liverpool

Traditional canal narrowboats will be sailing into Liverpool to make a big splash in two high profile events over the next fortnight. British Waterways (BW), Liverpool Boats and AIG Haulage are joining forces to enter a 45 foot narrowboat in the Lord Mayor's Parade this Saturday (7 June).

Liverpool Boats is the largest boat manufacturer in the country, producing about 200 boats a year – about a quarter of the national market share. Anyone who has never had a look round inside a traditional boat will get the chance during the Mersey River Festival when the parade boat will be moored in Salthouse Dock. AIG Haulage specialises in abnormal load movements and transport boats throughout the UK and Europe.

On Sunday 8 June, a flotilla of narrowboats from the Leeds & Liverpool Canal will make the annual challenging journey out of the canal, along the River Mersey and into Albert Dock for the River Festival. More than 20 boats are due to arrive in Salthouse Dock at 17.30 and will create a colourful spectacle in the dock until their departure on Thursday 19 June.

The public will get a chance to see them in action in two colourful Illuminated Processions as they sail in convoy through Albert Dock and the other southern docks. Bedecked with lights, the boats will be competing for the best dressed boat competition on Friday 13, and Sunday 15 June, at 22.00.

In the illuminated procession on the Sunday evening 'The Saxo Man' will be playing smooth sounds of Jazz through the docks on the Education Boat Kennet which will be on display throughout the Festival weekend in Salthouse Dock. Boating and Liverpool's rich maritime history will also come under the spotlight for 250 schoolchildren, whose schools border the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

BW has sponsored Green Badge Guides to give tours of the Pier head and Albert Dock for primary school children from St Phillips School, Litherland, St Joan of Arc Primary School, Bootle, Hudson Primary School, Maghull, Aintree Davenhill, Aintree, Beach Road Primary, Litherland and St James RC Primary School, Bootle.