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Name the boat

24th Nov 2005

British Waterways is launching a fun educational project and competition for local schools to take part in. The project includes a chance to win an all expenses paid trip to the popular Standedge Tunnel visitor destination in Marsden, near Huddersfield, by suggesting names for an innovative new fleet of maintenance boats currently being built to help look after the waterways.

Classes of children aged 7 to 11 are being invited to take part in the free competition and teachers are being asked to register their interest now for the project that will run during the spring 2006 term.

To enable teachers to make the competition part of a lesson or a series on conserving the waterways heritage, British Waterways’ education initiative WOW (Wild Over Waterways) has produced a teaching resource and lesson pack on the new workboats and what they are used for.

Marie Millward, Economic and Social Development Manager at British Waterways comments: “We have developed a fun national curriculum lesson pack for free use by teachers. Children will learn more about the history of Yorkshire’s waterways, the new workboats and what they are use for, and why the conservation of our canal heritage is so important. The winning schools will also enjoy a fun day out at the popular Standedge Tunnel where they will officially name the boat.

“Britain’s inland waterways are a unique educational resource and can stimulate enormous curiosity and interest in young people. The programme to replace the tugs and workboats that are used to maintain the waterways is a great project to stimulate this interest and to encourage waterside safety at the same time.”

British Waterways’ fleet of new workboats is currently being manufactured and will be delivered in the New Year. They are being purchased to help undertake the essential maintenance work required to look after the 200 year old waterways – from dredging the channel of the canal, general day-to-day maintenance of waterside trees and vegetation, to the transportation of new lock gates and other essential repairs to the waterways heritage.

Two winning schools in Yorkshire will win an all expenses paid visit for a class of up to 35 children, together with accompanying teachers or other adults. Winning schools will be those who, in British Waterways’ opinion, suggest the most exciting and original name for one of the new tugs. The visit will be in the 2006 spring term and will include the boat-naming ceremony.

For further information for teachers, or to register an interest in taking part in the competition, please contact Marie Millward on 07718 149163 or email her at marie.millward@britishwaterways.co.uk.

Last updated: 22/10/2008