One of the Royal Navy’s two aircraft carriers – HMS Prince of Wales – will visit Liverpool for the second time in December and will be open to the public. 20,000 people stepped on board during her last visit in 2020. Tony McDonough reports
HMS Prince of Wales arrives in the River Mersey in March 2020. Picture courtesy of the Royal Navy
Liverpool will welcome the Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales for only the second time when she arrives in the Mersey in early December.
And, similar to her last visit in March 2020, the vessel will once again allow members of the public on board. Her first visit to the Mersey happened just days before the first COVID lockdown and saw 20,000 people step on board.
People will need to book places in advance. This will be handled by the events team at Liverpool City Council and an announcement on dates and ticket availability will be made in the next few days.
Liverpool is one of the few non-Royal Naval ports which can accommodate the aircraft carrier’s 65,000 gross tonnes bulk, 284m (932ft) length, 11m (36ft) draft and flight-deck (the size of three football pitches) with its huge 17m (55ft) overhang either side of the hull.
It will also be, in part, a home-coming for the carrier as her flight deck, hangar and sections of accommodation were built at Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, directly across the river from her berth at Liverpool Cruise Terminal.
This was a significant contract for Cammell Laird, along with similar work for her earlier sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth, creating thousands of direct highly-skilled shipbuilding, administration and ancillary jobs in the supply chain.
HMS Prince of Wales spent eight days at Liverpool Cruise Terminal in 2020. While she was in port her then commanding officer, Capt Darren Houston, told LBN he was thrilled with the incredible welcome from local people.
He explained: “Given HMS Prince of Wales is affiliated to Liverpool, I’d like to return here as often as operations permit as it’s important to bond with the local community.
HMS Prince of Wales arriving in the Mersey. Picture courtesy of the Royal Navy
HMS Prince of Wales at Liverpool Cruise Terminal. Picture by Tony McDonough
A Liverpool Cruise Terminal team secures HMS Prince of Wales. Picture by Tony McDonough
“This is a tough river to navigate and we planned our arrival to the minute on the tide and turning on the ebb into the landing stage. In spite of the rough weather it was achieved right on time.
“It’s really important to have a ‘carrier navy’ as it gives us more choice in having a strike force capability, especially in a post-Brexit world. It also gives much more flexibility having a more global navy able to undertake a peace-keeping role and going into some difficult areas.
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“It was sad to see the previous generation of carriers go, but after a 10 year gap with the completion of Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth we now have Europe’s premier carriers.”
Capt Houston has since departed as captain of HMS Prince of Wales and the Royal Navy vessel is now skippered by Capt Will Blackett.
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