A GROUP of youngsters from Waterside Primary School got to see the Port of Southampton’s new workboat when they visited the Meercat boatyard in Hythe.

Children from Waterside Primary School and Hythe Primary School also helped to choose a name for the new vessel which will perform a vital role keeping the waters of the port safe.

The name will be revealed when the workboat is named at Seawork in June but the children got a chance to see the new boat when they made the short journey from their school to the boatyard.

Head teacher Penny Bullough, said: “Visiting the boatyard is important because it is part of the local culture and heritage.

“It gives the children a sense of what the adult world in which we live looks like – and it is an opportunity for them to understand that the things they are learning are relevant to the world we live in.”

Harbour Master, Captain Martin Phipps, said: “It’s really important to us that a local company based in Hythe is building our workboat and when she comes into service, this vessel will play an important role keeping the Port of Southampton open and safe for all our maritime users.

”Having a local youngster name our boat has made it even more special – and we can’t wait to reveal the name at Seawork.”

Jason Coltman, Managing Director of Meercat Workboats, said; “It is lovely to work with the local school. We are going to keep in touch with them and invite the children along when we have other milestones with other boats we are building.”