BUSINESSMAN Dave Howe is facing a race against time to have his latest venture shipshape.

The former lifeboat crewman has only six weeks left if he is to meet his target to have a redundant tug transformed into a floating restaurant and shop.

Completion of the work will mark the end of an eight-month labour of love for Mr Howe, who has spent every spare hour painstakingly converting the decks to give the 1960s boat, called Ella, a new lease of life.

Mr Howe, 57, bought the 100ft Dutch-built tug last October and has been working on it at its new home in Hartlepool Marina since January. Part of it will house a kitchen and a tapas-style restaurant, and stock from Mr Howe's nearby shop, Nauticalia, will also be on display.

"It occupies all my waking hours," said Mr Howe. "I'm either thinking about it or working on it.

"Before this, my wife and I had the Norton Hotel, in Seaton Carew, for 14 years and built four storeys on to it, but that job was nothing compared to this."

Mr Howe and his wife, Carol, opened Nauticalia, a small franchise selling replica maritime paraphernalia, at the marina, three years ago.

At that time, it was hoped many of the units along Navigation Point, which overlook the water, would become shops.

But the take-up was slow, and the terrace has since become home to businesses including a nursery, hairdresser, wine bars and restaurants as well as offices and shops.

Mr Howe said: "The marina has become more geared to leisure time, and food and drink, so if that's what they want, let's give them it.

"Initially this was just going to be an extension of the shop, but more and more people are coming to the marina to eat and drink, so we can latch on to that.

"The car park obscures the marina for people walking along the terrace or eating there, so we can provide that great view of the water from the tug."

The vessel has had an active life since being commissioned in 1961, and was last used to run supplies to an oil rig off Grimsby. It has undergone various name-changes, from Marg Gerling in the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp, and then Zeeland, before becoming Ella.

"When I found her she was redundant," said Mr Howe. "She was sitting waiting for something to happen to her and now something is happening."