Experimental vessel:
The Lagan Lighter
Where to begin with an introduction to Paddy Bloomer? Artist-plumber-inventor-explorer, this large-scale commission continues his tradition of innovating vessels (or "mechanical curiosities”) which are constructed from recycled materials and featuring sustainable forms of power.
Paddy will begin construction in early May; scroll down for further details on where you can find him.
We’re grateful for the support of Maritime Belfast Trust for this commission, in both providing the build site and materials which connect the city’s shipbuilding tradition to the future of sustainable transport.
You've never seen a boat like this before...
You've never seen a boat like this before...
The materials…
Paddy will construct the main body of his vessel from 10 tons of wind turbine tower. The tower is the main structure of a wind turbine which supports the rotor, nacelle, and other components. Made from steel, the tower is designed to be strong and sturdy enough to withstand the forces of wind and keep the turbine upright.
He has been building maquettes from the same steel used in the turbine towers to explore the process of unfurling them, refolding them, welding them together and checking whether they float… success!
The site…
Paddy and his vessel will occupy a prominent site next to Titanic Belfast, where local people and tourists alike can observe this unique construction taking shape.
If you’re in the Titanic area, this will be a must-see! We will be producing signage and information sheets to outline Paddy’s process and progress. You can pick these up from Visitor Services at Titanic Belfast.
We are grateful to our partners Maritime Belfast Trust for contributing so generously to the development of this strand of the project.
There’s our Paddy, there!
Illustration courtesy of Embracing the Belfast Waterfront: A framework for the future development of the Belfast Waterfront Promenade. Commissioned by Maritime Belfast Trust on behalf of the Waterfront Taskforce and prepared by Schulze Grassov, December 2023.
The Bin Boat
This isn’t Paddy’s first time at the rodeo - he’s been making boats from unusual materials for many years. The Bin Boat - perhaps his and collaborator Nicholas Keogh’s most famous creation - was constructed from what ArtForum called ‘a crude jumble of domestic and industrial junk… a ridiculous but nonetheless viable vessel’ which ran on chip fat.
The pair sailed it around Venice - as part of Northern Ireland’s 2005 contribution to the Biennale - for seven weeks, operating it variously as an after-hours taxi service, airport pick-up vehicle, and island exploration vessel.
In 2021, the Bin Boat made its final outing on Gartan Lake, in homage to Colmcille (naturally), before it was repurposed as a hen house.