Saving Basuto

Aim

Basuto is sinking and needs your help. Please donate to the Basuto Crowdfunder today to help us save this incredible piece of history.

Basuto is sinking. This last-of-its-kind vessel, a proud symbol of Britain’s shared industrial heritage, is in critical condition. Without immediate intervention, this treasure could be lost forever.

The Canal & River Trust, proud custodians of Basuto, urgently need your help to save Basuto and give her a new lease on life as a monument to our industrial heritage. Please donate today to be a part of this incredible rescue mission.

Image: Basuto in her heyday

Basuto

Basuto is a 66ft canal boat, whose classification as a ‘puffer’ derives from the puffing sound made by her steam engine. Built in Glasgow in 1902, Basuto played a vital role in industrial Britain transporting iron across the country, coaling naval vessels during World War I, and supporting transportation during World War II. With a rich and varied history, she has been a working vessel, a coal barge, and a steam-powered cargo ship. She is now the oldest of only three surviving Clyde Puffers in the world, and the oldest known surviving inland puffer (other puffers being built for sea travel). Basuto has been recognised as an important vessel on the National Historic Ships’ Historic Fleet Register, alongside esteemed vessels like the Cutty Sark and HMS Victory.

Image: Basuto today at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port

However, time and the elements have taken a devastating toll on Basuto. Currently sitting in the lower basin at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port, this iconic vessel is heavily listing and must be continuously pumped to stay afloat. Due to her construction Basuto cannot be repaired while in the water, and without immediate action she risks sinking completely, which would further damage her structure and threaten the water quality of the surrounding area. Having secured initial generous funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund to help save Basuto, we now need your help to secure the remaining funding and raise awareness of this historic conservation effort.

What we’re doing

Your support will enable us to lift Basuto out of the water and begin essential conservation work. Over the next 12 months, the Canal & River Trust will be carrying out the following works to help save Basuto:

• Asbestos removal and hull cleanout – Safely clearing harmful materials from Basuto and preparing her interior for conservation.
• Bespoke cradle design and fabrication – A custom-built support to ensure her safe placement on dry land is currently under construction.
• Crane lift – Basuto will then be lifted by crane out of the water and onto the cradle, where members of the public will be able to see her on the slipway. 
• Hydro-blasting and epoxy coating – Following the lift, comprehensive cleaning and long-lasting protective treatment will be applied to secure her for future use and a new life on land.

How You Can Help

Together, we can save Basuto from sinking and give her a second life. Here's what your support could do:

• £50 could go towards clearing out Basuto's hull and preparing her for lifting from the water.
• £100 could go towards acquiring the specialist paints and equipment needed to apply protective treatment to Basuto once out of the water.
• £250 could go towards construction of the cradle needed to support Basuto whilst she’s stationed on the slipway.
• £1,000 could go towards helping lift Basuto out of the water, saving her from sinking and allowing us to begin vital conservation works.

Basuto isn’t just a boat—it’s a living connection to our industrial past. Please donate to our Basuto Crowdfunder today to help us save this incredible piece of history. Together we can ensure that this unique historic vessel can be conserved for future generations to come.

Rebecca Mason

Basuto Project Management Team

This project successfully funded on 31st July 2025