The Clearwater

The Clearwater, pride of the Clean Tyne Project fleet, was named in a competition by two local school children. She was specifically designed for the Tyne and built by Mustang Marine, in Pembroke Dock, Wales at a cost of £242,000. Boat building started in April 2004 and trails were completed by November 2004 when the Clearwater sailed round Lands End to the River Tyne under her own power.

The steel boat has been operating on the Tyne since January 2005 and has collected a substantial amount of debris, which has included hundreds of whole trees and large timbers. She has been involved in a number of river rescues and has been responsible for saving at least xx lives.

The Clearwater is powered by two six cylinder Cummins 6BT turbo charged marine diesel engines, which are capable of producing 180hp @ 2500rpm. These propulsion units mean the boat can travel at more than 8 knots when the Tyne tide can run at 5 knots. The large crane is a 25 tonne/m hydraulic knuckle boom deck mounted crane, made by Amco Veba, and is fitted with a hydraulic timber grab for handling items from the water.

 

SITA Eater

The SITA Eater was built by Liverpool Water Witch Company for a cost of approximately £20,000. Work started in October 2004 and trials completed on Merseyside, in late November 2004.

The aluminium catamaran, powered by a 25hp Yamaha outboard motor, skims across the surface of the river collecting the floating debris and litter in the removable pod. Then, the Clearwater picks up the pod and empties the contents into its onboard skip, leaving the SITA Eater to continue sweeping clean the River Tyne.

Flat sides and wheel fenders make it possible to drive the craft along quay walls. Inward flared bows force litter in the boat’s path into the collection basket. A non-return gate at the rear prevents the contents being forced out when the SITA Eater is in reverse. It even features some handheld nets to get to those 'hard-to-reach' places!