Sunk wherry raised to make way for new boating era
The Broads Authority’s dredging team has raised the remnants of a 100 year old wherry which has been submerged in Ranworth Broad for over a half a century to make way for Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s new generation of trip boats.
The 60ft wherry was blocking a berth needed for the new electric powered education trip boats at Norfolk Wildlife Centre. It was one of several wherries which were sunk in the broad during the Second World War to prevent enemy hydroplanes landing and during the ‘60s to protect the banks from erosion.
NWT’s two education boats were taken out of service in 2007 when new stability testing limited the number of passengers to just three. Now £75,000 has been raised for two new boats, built by Goodchild Marine Services of Burgh Castle, which can each carry 12 passengers on wildlife trips round the reserve this summer.
The Broads Authority was commissioned to lift the wherry with its dredging rig, and the old engine, propeller and gearbox, keel and rudder were recovered amongst pieces of rotten timber, along with a blackened drawer front with untarnished brass handle.
Rob Rogers, the BA’s Head of Construction and Facilities, said:” The rudder and propeller came out whole but we had to snap the keel because it was partly wedged under the floating wildlife centre.
“It was a particularly skilful operation on the part of the crane driver, Mark Bell, because we were working very close to a floating building in a confined space with heavy plant.”
Tug driver Vic Gosling had to skilfully weave the huge dredging rig through a staggered narrow gateway, which was as wide as the rig itself, into Ranworth Broad.
“He had to be spot on, in and out, because there was no room to manoeuvre. It was a piece of superb driving,” said Rob. “The operation was very successful because we were dealing with the unknown. We didn’t know how large the wherry was or how hard she was stuck on the bottom.”
11/06/09
