Ship Canal convoys

THERE have been three convoys of narrowboats along the Manchester Ship Canal that were stuck by the breach on the Trent & Mersey Canal.

To escape the breach, it was arranged to use the Anderton Boat Lift, with boater Mike Carter taking three convoys down the Weaver and on to the Manchester Ship Canal to Ellesmere Port.

Nervous boaters

He pointed out that there were some very nervous boaters more used to the canals than the commercial waterway they shared with massive commercial vessels.

At least one boat is still stranded on the Trent & Mersey Canal, not having the required insurance or Boat Safety Certificate, and thus not being allowed on the commercial waterway.

Middlewich Narrowboats

The boats being unable to get pass Preston Brook to their home moorings, not only by the major breach but by the embankment failure have been helped by Middlewich Narrowboats.

The company, realising that other hire companies are being hit, offered free moorings for the stranded boats together with its facilities.