Liverpool lockies get the award
The Hotel Boat section of the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators (APCO) has awarded their prestigious Lock Keeper of the Year award for 2009/10 to the Liverpool Link Team, Harry Arnold tells us.
In the Waterway Images picture Emma Fearnley (Chairman, Hotel Boat section of APCO) presents the APCO Lock Keeper of the Year Award to the BW Liverpool Link team (L to R): Phil Bather, Daniel Russell, Andy Goudie (Harbourmaster, Albert Dock), Stephen Bergquist (Link Team Supervisor) and Frank Tennant.
Recognise the support and assistance
Recipients are nominated and voted for by all APCO Hotel Boat operators so that they can recognise the support and assistance they receive from the people working ‘on the ground' as they take holidaymakers around Britain's inland waterways. It was presented at the Association's recent national AGM, held this year coincidently at Albert Dock, Liverpool.
Emma Fearnley, presenting the award praised the British Waterways team for their hard work, humour and commitment, commenting:
"The Liverpool Link Team assist boats through the swing bridges of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal as they approach the city, and then work them through the locks of the Liverpool Canal Link. They give a great welcome to boat crews and holiday makers to Liverpool, introducing them to the Pier Head and sights and provide a wealth of useful information about the city—and help ensure we maintain our schedules as our guests enjoy the fascinating and spectacular cruise through the Liverpool Link and in to the South Docks."
New jobs created
The Canal Link was constructed as part of a £22m project to extend the Leeds and Liverpool Canal through to the South Docks, and the role of Lock Keeper is an example of some of the new jobs created during the two years the canal has been in operation.
In summer months the Link Team focus on assisting the passage of boats through the canal; this winter the Lock Keepers are working on canal maintenance projects using their extensive construction industry skills.