On Saturday LBN reported that aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was returning to Liverpool for the first time since 2020 and details of when she is here and how you can get on board are now revealed. Tony McDonough reports

HMS Prince of Wales at Liverpool Cruise Terminal in 2020. Picture by Tony McDonough

Around 20,000 members of the public are expected to step on board aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in December with details of how to get tickets now revealed.

LBN reported at the weekend that the 65,000-tonne vessel would sail into the Mersey in early December. On Tuesday it was announced the ship would allow public access via Liverpool Cruise Terminal on Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8.

Culture Liverpool expects 10,000 people to come on board on each of the two days. Tickets are available for a small fee of £1.75 and must be booked in advance. To book your place click here.

HMS Prince of Wales, Britain’s biggest aircraft carrier, will actually be in port for seven days. This will allow her 800-strong crew to engage with local schools, community projects and civic leaders.

Liverpool is one of the few non-Royal Naval ports which can accommodate the aircraft carrier’s 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.

Commanding officer Captain Will Blackett said: “It is a great privilege to bring the ship to Liverpool – a city with very special historical links to the Royal Navy – and it is a particular honour for us to receive the Freedom of the City this week.

“This is the culmination of a very busy autumn training programme. The ship’s company deserves recognition for their remarkable efforts, and this visit allows us to show you what we do.”

A Liverpool Cruise Terminal team secures HMS Prince of Wales. Picture by Tony McDonough
HMS Prince of Wales sailed into the River Mersey in March 2020. Picture by Tony McDonough

This mammoth vessel carries engineers, chefs, gunners, warfare specialists and other men and women who safely direct air operations on and off the sprawling flight deck. Some of the crew are from Merseyside.

They include junior marine engineering officer Sub Lieutenant Yasemin Dilek. She added: “I believe we take a part of Liverpool everywhere we go. 

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“You never really detach from it – it’s always home and we love to share our experiences and stories about our special place with everyone we meet – it’s even better when these feelings are reciprocated with the kind words and opinions others share for our amazing city.

“No matter where you are in the world, the chances are you’ll bump into a Scouser and that warm fuzzy feeling of home and pride takes over. This is why I am incredibly excited about the ship’s upcoming trip to Liverpool.”