Aqueduct Marina are proud to have been asked by the waterways and wellbeing charity Canal & River Trust to build a new boat in time for the Commonwealth Games in July in Birmingham. The new boat, which will be called Aquarius II, will replace the original craft Aquarius. Despite this being the name of the mythical water carrier, this boat will be used for something somewhat less glamorous but nonetheless important: to collect debris from the waterways in and around the Birmingham area during and after the games.

The engineers at Aqueduct are no strangers to building or refurbishing some of the Trust’s fleet of workboats and it is this experience, coupled with the unique skillset of the workshop team, that helped the Cheshire marina be awarded the contract.

Robert Parton, MD of Aqueduct Marina, said: “We are proud to be supporting the Trust in their program of bringing their workboat fleet up to modern standards, this one is more interesting with its connection to the Commonwealth Games this summer.”

Mick Carrington, Plant & Equipment Manager at Canal & River Trust, said: “Aquarius II is going to be another essential workboat for our fleet. It will be a vast improvement on the old craft, providing improved performance from its battery-powered electric propulsion drive, and the welfare provisions have been updated to provide 240-volt electrics and toilet facilities. The timely arrival of the new craft will ensure, with the help of the Trust’s dedicated volunteers, that Birmingham’s canals are looking their best as the city welcomes thousands of visitors for the Commonwealth Games. We have worked with Aqueduct Marina before and have been impressed by their operational capabilities and skilled engineers, and we are delighted to entrust them with the build.”

Aquarius is 35ft long and has battery-powered propulsion making it very environmentally friendly and quiet in operation.