The Clearway
The steam dredger Clearway was a well known 'character' in
Whitehaven harbour for some 70 years. She dredged up the silt
that tides kept washing into the harbour mouth. Built in Aberdeen
in 1926 she came to Haven a year later.She was one of the last
coal fired steam dredgers in Europe. In 1992 her triple expansion
reciprocating steam engine was mothballed as the days of phosphate
rock cargoes into the port had stopped.
Regrettably despite strenous efforts by the Harbour Master Dave
Allan no preservation society could be found or formed to take
on the Clearway. In 1998 a crowd of wellwishers saw the boat off
as she was towed to Millom for scrap. A Norwegian society renovating
a 1908 fjord steamer the Oster have bought the engines and in
2000 summer started sea trials at Bergen. Fund raising is now
(October 2000) active for a £4,500 scale model of Clearway.
Already £1,800 has been pledged.
Any donations should be made to the Secretary of the Whitehaven
Heritage Action Group, David Allan, Pears House, Duke Street,
Whitehaven. Any cheques should be made payable to the Whitehaven
Heritage Action Group.
To find out more look to the Harbour Commission web site www.whitehaven-harbour.co.uk