24th October '06
Kerne is now back in full operation. She has already completed a trip from Liverpool to Acton Bridge, on the Weaver Navigation, then back to the MSC and up to Salford. She is now back in Liverpool where she will soon be available to visit.
For more up-to-date information of where and when she can be see, please follow the "Where to see Kerne" link at the top of the page.
29th August '06
We have today had a full head of steam and have turned the engine successfully after 2 years lay up.
We celebrated with afternoon tea complete with scones and Eccles cakes, after brewing from the waters boiled on Furnace No. 3 (Aft cabin Stove) which has also had a dose of TLC and new fire cement, having not been fired for over 12 months.
15th May '06
While raising steam for the Mersey River Festival in June, the Kerne unfortunately had a stay tube failure.
Work on replacing the tubes has been ongoing (photos) and the opportunity of some time in the drydock has been taken.
On 19th February she was towed across the Mersey (photos) to be dry-docked, alongside the “Daniel Adamson” at number 4 drydock, Monks Ferry, Birkenhead.
She entered drydock on 27th April ‘06 and has had the following work done to her hull:
- Scraped and high pressure washed, followed by 2 coats of Bitumastic on the Starboard side, the propeller and rudder. On the Port side approximately 60% of the area was given 2 coats.
- 6 anodes fitted
- Draft marks painted in
- some 30 rivet heads ring welded
- New echo sounder transducer fitted
- all 3 shell valves (as fitted to vessels hull) removed, refurbished and refitted
- Stern gland opened up, old packing removed, new packing fitted
She left drydock on 15th May ’06 and has returned to her berth at the Merseyside Maritime Museum.
Kerne was moved to the drydock by the "James Jackson Grundy" and removed by the "Safehand". Both belong to Mersey Tanker Lighterage.
Visit the gallery to see some pictures.
