A replica of one of Scotland’s earliest iron ships is being modernised and repaired at Mackay Boat Builders in Arbroath.
The Vulcan, launched in 1819 by the Forth and Clyde Canal Company, was an all-iron barge designed to be hauled by horses for use on Scottish canals.
The 66ft boat served for many years as a passenger boat on the Glasgow to Edinburgh service and is reputed to have carried 200 passengers and cargo.
A replica of the historic vessel was built for the Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988 and is now part of the collection at the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge.
Harry Simpson from MacKay Boat Builders said he expected the improvement work to the replica to take several months.
He explained: “It’s a very good replica and the steelwork is in good order but it now requires to be modernised.
“We are changing the internals of the boat to allow people on board and provide disabled access. We’ve stripped it back to the bare steel internally and externally.
“The electrics will be upgraded and some steelwork will be improved as well. It’s the first time we’ve dealt with this type of iron boat, which makes it interesting for the guys in the yard.”
The original Vulcan is reported to have been broken up in 1873.