At Mersey Ferries Seacombe Terminal, two apprentices from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have restored a 100-year-old fog bell and revived a long-forgotten practice.
Two apprentices from the Combined Authority gave the Mersey Ferries fog bell a new lease of life as part of their real-life case study to complete their apprenticeship.
Ross Bower and Craig Hignett, who worked together on the mechanical upgrade, made a video showing how hard they worked to bring back a long-forgotten practice that adds to the Mersey Ferries’ long and interesting history.
The job took several months to finish and involved getting old parts from specialised sources and working for hours to remove rust and old paint that was protecting the mechanism before putting it back together in a very complicated way. That mechanism has now been put through its paces and put in a clear Perspex case to keep it safe. It will sit there proudly for many years to come and start to chime its forgotten history once more.
Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:
“Radar has been used for many years, both on and offshore, to keep boats safe in reduced visibility, leaving the bell out of service for decades. It has been a great experience to witness the journey Ross and Craig have been on while restoring the fog bell. They’ve managed to bring to life a piece of history, as well as earning their apprenticeship which is an impressive outcome and one they should be very proud of.”
For more information on the Mersey Ferries you visit their website.
READ MORE: MERSEY FERRIES SERVICES RETURN TO SEACOMBE AFTER 2 YEARS
