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Pacemaker Refloated After Llangollen Canal Breach in Whitchurch

Crews plan winch recoveries later this week for two boats still trapped in the breach.

Overview

  • On January 13, Canal & River Trust engineers refloated the narrowboat Pacemaker using a winch and temporary dams, restoring it to the canal after refilling the section with water.
  • Two other narrowboats remain at the bottom of the breach as teams prepare to scrape a ramp and begin winching them clear later this week.
  • The trust has installed pipes and pumps to maintain water flow around the site so boats downstream on the Llangollen Canal remain afloat.
  • A formal investigation into the embankment failure is under way, with a public summary of findings promised in the coming weeks, according to the trust’s chief operating officer, Julie Sharman.
  • The December 22 collapse released millions of gallons of water, formed a sinkhole about 50 metres long, and triggered a major-incident response in Whitchurch.