The north will rise again: the rebirth of the Manchester Ship Canal

The north will rise again: the rebirth of the Manchester Ship Canal
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The century-old Manchester Ship canal is being revived and regenerated, with a view to dramatically rebalancing the north-south divide. From the port of Liverpool to Salford Quays, John Harris and John Domokos travel along its 36 miles, and talk to the people with a vision of a new Atlantic Gateway -- and a post-post-industrial economy

[@tonyjones99]

I sailed up the canal many times on cargo ships in the 60s and 70s. We had to take the tops off the funnels off to get under the bridges. The masts were telescopic as well so they could be lowered.

[@johnburns4017]

Modern ships are much taller than the old cargo ships. They hold far more cargo for a given hull size. They get the accommodation and bridge aft and tall to get more freight in. There are a few ships a week still using the canal. They are dedicated bulk coasters, not general cargo. The canal is heavily used from Eastham to Runcorn, around the Mersey estuary.
The long stretch from Runcorn to Manchester is just about dead. It could be filled in, or drained, from Runcorn upwards and HS3 run on it, also linking Liverpool and Manchester airports by very fast rail, merging the two. It is ideal.

[@davidthompson4662]

Sailed on my first ship from these docks, MV. Pampas. Royal Mail line's. Pantry Boy. 31. 12. 1960.
Later on Prince line and Manchester Liners. Best days ever.

[@cornovii3012]

01.25 The ship canal runs from Manchester to Eastham, not Liverpool. The ships leave The ship canal Eastham then enter the River Mersey to go past liverpool.

[@chrismccartney8668]

Superb Video same sort of change as London Docklands need to ensure the past is not forgotten as many would not realise manchester was a huge port 45 miles inland.
I once stopped on the way to work thru London Docklands and stopped near city airport and someone said why did biuld all this water round city airport i pointed out that was already in place London Docks were once the Busiest port in the world they were stunned and a little embarassed at their lack of knowledge..

[@RDrone_mcr]

Don't forget that the huge industrial zone of Trafford Park is only a few miles down the road. Goods will be taken to Port Salford and transported into Trafford Park by rail. This will reduce transport costs for companies who already use the ship canal to move goods such as Rank Hovis, Kellogs, Tesco and Addidas as well as gaining new business.

[@groupcaptainbonzo]

So... how’s it going now? Seven years later.....

[@adamusexbomb]

Nice film, well done.

[@mbarker1958]

Many ships I was on were designed for low bridges around the world.
As for green belt land, I am sceptical - it seems a way of keeping property prices high for those property owners whilst preventing the building of houses that poor people (the youth of this country) possibly could afford to buy

[@kollusion1]

Nice piece.

[@johnburns4017]

The ship canal will just be a wider barge canal, like those in France, with containers offloaded at Liverpool to be barged up. The canal and Manchester cannot accommodate the large ships of today. The locks are too narrow and the bridges are too low. The depth of the canal is OK, the locks can be made wider, but the prohibitive cost is the raising of the bridges.

[@markjones4704]

75ft max head height even in the day many ships had funnels taken off

[@johnburns4017]

@@markjones4704
Most ships could not go up the canal. They were not prepared to pay to adjust the ship to accommodate just one port which takes a day to get up a canal and day to get back.

[@sarahh6237]

I love canals

[@RDrone_mcr]

At an extremely alarming rate. I don't understand how they get away with it under competition laws...

[@twistedtrackstravel8771]

I live in Runcorn The Ship Canal in the tower block that doesn't fit the screen at 4:50, i was going to say you barley see a ship go up an down it that often but they said why as i was typing lol

[@brammacgibbonharrold7474]

hi Mr Akroyd

[@samjohns7863]

do you really think thats an important use of lesson time

[@aceofwands]

Manchester Council actually applied to Parliament to build a motorway over the canal in 1980s. Failed as it is essentially the drainage for Manchester rain.

[@markjones4704]

its the river irwell and mersey in places the irwell feeds it and too build it both rivers were diverted during construction

[@johnburns4017]

The canal could be partially filled, made half the width, so Northern Powerhouse Rail can run on it. From Runcorn to Manchester it is largely redundant. Being half the width, coasters can still run up it. It would be one-way, so just leave passing bays. It is going to waste as it is. I do not know how the Runcorn to Manchester section financially justified.

[@duxberry1958]

looks like the ship is Thea II

[@user-kn6wb1yc1j]

This canal didn’t fuel the industrial revolution at all.they didn’t start building it until 1887 i think the Industrial Revolution happened a bit earlier…

[@ceismulcastle]

So ten years on did it happen?

[@SapaHollidaySaparonia]

well yes Tesco is rising again allover the place

[@johnburns4017]

To prosper and use the canal again, Manchester has to turn to manufacturing again and stop trying to be a commercial city. The city must play to its strengths. Large ports naturally are commercial cities, like nearby Liverpool.

[@davecooke914]

I work on Manchester ship canal

[@Ben-db5re]

Dave Cooke what do you do?

[@davecooke914]

@@Ben-db5re lockgateman on Manchester ship canel

[@corky1548]

how deep is the water

[@markjones4704]

it was origianlly 28ft draught

[@johnburns4017]

After nine years nothing happened.

[@leenevin8451]

too many vehicles on the road

[@duxberry1958]

its 2024 i,m still effing wasting