Ark Royal on her way to the Mersey – or is she?

Aug 11 2007 by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

ark royal, due to come to liverpool

BRITAIN’S biggest warship, HMS Ark Royal, is to pay a three-day visit to the Mersey in the middle of next month.

The visit coincides with the start on September 16 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

Thousands of spectators are expected along the Mersey waterfront for the start of the 35,000-mile race when 10 crews will battle the oceans over 11 months bidding for the coveted Clipper Cup.

But it seemed last night that the visit of the aircraft carrier could be called off if Liverpool’s new cruise liner landing stage is not ready in time.

Royal Navy sources said they were aware of the situation regarding the stage, highlighted in yesterday’s Daily Post.

We reported that a race against time is now under way to complete the £19m facility in time for a busy programme of visits in September.

The main event is on September 21 when the Queen Elizabeth 2 is due to tie up alongside the stage as part of its round-Britain 40th anniversary cruise.

The platform remains in a dry dock at Cammell Laird undergoing last minute checks and so-called snagging repairs.

Builders Balfour Beatty say they hope to tow the stage across the Mersey to its new home this Monday.

Even if that deadline is met there will still be a tough timetable because of the many trials that will be needed with river pilots, as well as safety and security checks.

The aim is for the Ark Royal to arrive at Liverpool on Friday, September 14, a week before the QE2, and remain alongside the new stage until Monday.

On the Sunday she will be the main VIP viewing platform for the start of the clipper race.

According to maritime sources, the carrier is so big that it cannot be accommodated anywhere except the landing stage. A sunken mooring in mid-river is said to be unusable.

One leading maritime official told the Daily Post last night: “Unless the new cruise liner stage is ready the Ark Royal will not be able to visit the Mersey in mid-September. We are keeping our fingers crossed that everything will be finished and ready in time. After Mathew Street it will be a bitter blow if we have to turn away the flagship of our Royal Naval fleet.”

larryneild