As part of Newcastle’s celebrations of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, visitors to the Quayside area had a unique opportunity to view the iconic bridges from water level and learn more about one of the region’s nautical charities.
NE1’s Newcastle City Marina and The Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) partnered together to provide a day of free river rides, music, and an evening parade of sail.
The Maritime Volunteer Service is a uniformed, voluntary organisation with more than 25 active units spread around the UK coastline at major port and river areas. Northumbria Unit is based at St Peter’s Marina. The aim of the MVS is to keep the country’s maritime traditions alive. Practical training in seamanship, small boat handling, engineering and communications helps to achieve this.
During the day, more than 100 members of the public received free river cruises on the charity’s rigid hulled inflatable boats and had a chance to see the unit’s 29ft patrol vessel “Melita” up close.
The Parade of Sail included several pleasure vessels and work boats that are regularly seen on the Tyne including the Tyne and Wear Fire Boat.
Angela Carrington, Regional Volunteer Officer of the MVS said:” We’d like to thank Newcastle Marina for helping us put on this event and the Port of Tyne for their cooperation. We’d also like to thank every boat owner who attended and decorated their vessels for the Jubilee. It was a great day and a good way to celebrate Her Majesty’s Jubilee and the first National Maritime Volunteer Service Day.”
On the first Saturday in June annually, there will be a National Maritime Volunteer Service Day where units across the UK will celebrate the sea, ships and nautical traditions.
