Capt Brocklebank dropped into National Museum Liverpool’s Co-Production Sharing Event: International Slavery Museum & Maritime Museum at the Museum of Liverpool to test the waters, on 28 February.

​To his horror nothing was ​said about the multi-million three-year closure and revamp of the Merseyside Maritime Museum. ​Even more curious as the invitation was sent out by Ian Murphy, Head of the Maritime Museum (note ‘Merseyside’ is no longer in its title).

Instead, all the focus was on the upgrade and expansion of the International Slavery Museum (ISM) next door. Capt Brocklebank suspects there is mission creep by the ISM gradually swallowing up its neighbour. Although the Captain was assured recently by ISM Head Michelle Charters​ OBE that both museums were regarded as equals​.

However, our Shipping Lines correspondent remained throughout the event’s entire five hours and reports the Maritime Museum only got two fleeting mentions and nobody from the seafaring community or groups were represented.

Capt Brocklebank thinks NML bosses need reminding that Liverpool’s transatlantic slavery only accounts for about 200 of the city’s 900 years of trading. Also, let us hope there is proper emphasis in the revamped ISM of the British Government and Royal Navy’s global work suppressing international slavery.