Category: Blog

It’s 26 years since Britannia ruled the Royal waves

WHEN US Iraqi war hero General ‘Stormin” Norman Schwarzkopf toured the Her Majesty’s Yacht  Britannia and saw her engine room’s white painted bilges, he was astonished. “OK – I’ve seen the display, where’s the real engine room?” he growled. Such a disbelieving  reaction was music to the ears of Capt Hugh Daglish, seen left, the …

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Tug tours pull maritime students into the future

THE Royal Albert Dock complex is a fine sight these days, and a major tourist hub with its museums, galleries, shops and accommodation. What it lacks is the essence of its original purpose: ships, boats, vessels, barges, as among life’s more depressing views are those of empty docks and basins. The shipless situation is about …

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Lifeboatmen rescue historic pre-war Mersey lifeboat!

IT’S a well established truism that you should never buy anything viewed through the bottom of a beer glass – especially not a boat, or in this case a rare and historic 100-year-old prototype lifeboat in need of seriously expensive restoration. However, that’s just what Dan Wardle, below right, New Brighton Lifeboat helmsman, and two …

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Float your wine boat with Fizz & Ships

COME and get aboard a Fizz & Ships illustrated wine and champagne tasting evening with a shipload of anecdotal fun and viticulture on Saturday 23 March, 2024, at 7pm, at St Anne’s Church, Aigburth, Liverpool. At the helm will be renowned sommelier Jane Clare with Peter Elson manning the puns and life jokes as you …

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Acclaimed Beatles biographer backs Salvor mast campaign

TOP Beatles biographer Mark Lewisohn has given his support to Shipping Lines’ campaign to save the world famous Salvor ship’s mast which featured in the Fab Four’s momentous first photo-shoot featuring Ringo Starr, seen second left aboard the ship, with from left, Paul, George and John. “I wish you well with your campaign and I …

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The Lady and the Pelican launch new Sir Ken Dodd Cup

LADY Dodd, widow of the celebrated Liverpool comedian Sir Ken Dodd, hosted the launch onboard Pelican of London, one of the UK’s most renowned Class A tall ships, before the vessel inaugurated the first of the three Sir Ken and Lady Dodd Tall Ship Sailing Experience voyages around the Irish Sea and English Channel this …

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HELP! SOS Beatles Mast

Dismembered Salvor Mast in City Council Yard. Picture: Jonathan Brown, Share the City HELP! Save Our Beatles Salvor Mast The first Shipping Lines campaign In spite of reassurances to the contrary, Liverpool City Council is on the brink of scrapping the former Mersey salvage ship Salvor’s mast and derricks which were the backdrop of the …

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Ship Blog – Tall Ships

IT seems like yesterday but is several years ago, when the mighty atom himself Jim Graves walked into my life and we had a conversation which has led to hundreds of young people taking to the sea in tall ships. This 2018 May Bank Holiday weekend marks the start of the fifth annual Apprentice Ship …

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