Liner berth heralds new era

Sep 9 2007 by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

Liverpool's new £19m cruise liner landing stage on the Pier Head has welcomed its first visitor.

The Seven Seas Voyager pulled up alongside the 1,000ft (304m) terminal at  9am today. It is one of two cruise liners which will visit before the QE2 docks on September 21.

Councillor Mike Storey welcomed the arrival of the terminal, and said it was an "added attraction" to the city.

He said: "I am delighted it is fully in place.

"It will be an added attraction along our stunning waterfront."

Teams have worked day and night to put the finishing touches to the long-awaited landing stage, which is expected to put Liverpool on the global cruise map.

The Voyager, described as the “Rolls Royce” of the seas, owned by Florida-based Seven Seas Cruises, is on a journey that started in Copenhagen and is now taking in the British Isles, with 700 passengers on board.

Tomorrow, a second vessel, the Deutschland, owned by German cruise company Peter Dellimann, will arrive at 6am at the landing stage for a two-day visit as part of a European tour.

The two visits are critical for Liverpool because they pave the way for the arrival on September 21 of the Queen Elizabeth 2, the world’s most loved cruise liner.

The QE2’s visit is one of the key events of the city’s 800th birthday celebrations, with the liner the star attraction in a day of pomp, ceremony and celebration.

The visit will be used as part of the official launch ceremony of the new City of Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal.

It is understood Cunard was unhappy about its famous floating palace being the first to tie up at the landing stage – hence the importance of the two “dry runs” over the coming days.

The QE2 will be back again next year as part of her final round Britain cruise before the famous shipping line retires their old lady of the seven seas. Members of the city council’s regeneration committee were given a sneak-preview of the landing stage when they were allowed to visit the floating facility yesterday.

Dozens of workers were busy painting, making adjustments and putting the finishing touches to the berth to prepare it for use.

Committee chairman Eddie Clein was impressed.

“This is going to open the front door of Liverpool to the rest of the world, and it will have major economic benefits for the city and the areas around.

“There are few cities anywhere in the world able to offer such a stunning welcome, pulling up in front of one of the most recognisable waterfronts anywhere.” City council project engineer John Kelly described the new landing stage to the politicians. Four honeycombed concrete pontoons, locked together. They are attached to piles driven 50ft into the river bedrock, providing anchorage and stability.

It is wide enough for two-way traffic and can accommodate 16 coaches, with a turnaround space at one end.

The stage will be run jointly by Merseytravel and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, both highly experienced in handling sea vessels and the vital security that goes with it.

“This is a big step forward in Liverpool’s regeneration,” declared former Lord Mayor, Cllr Clein.

His town hall colleague Flo Clucas agreed.

“We have worked for this day for many years, but it has been worth the wait. With 40 to 60 cruise liners and Royal Navy vessels arriving a year, it is going to bring thousands of visitors into Liverpool and the region.

larryneild