A WORLD-FAMOUS name in shipping yesterday gave its backing to the Daily Post’s Get On Board campaign for cruises to start and finish at Liverpool’s Pier Head.

Cammell Laird boss John Syvret joined other business leaders in giving his “absolute support” to the campaign to lift the ban on cruise turnarounds due to restrictions on the £15m EU grant used to build the city’s cruise terminal.

The Daily Post is calling for the Government to waive these restrictions so the cruise industry can fill the financial gap caused by imminent public sector cuts on Merseyside.

Each cruise liner turnaround is worth about £150,000 to the city in berthing charges, pilotage, refuelling, revictualling, stevedoring, crew and passenger transfers.

And each large cruise liner home- ported in the city would put about £1m annually into the local economy.

Mr Syvret, who is chief executive of ship repairers Cammell Laird, said: “I am giving my absolute support to this terrifically ambitious campaign, which Cammell Laird stands foursquare behind.

“The financial benefits of allowing cruise liner turnarounds at Liverpool cruise terminal are massive.

“It’s a huge wealth generator as there is a whole supply chain which will benefit across Merseyside.”