Tall Ship visit to the Mersey to cement historic ties between Wirral and Peru
Wirral’s historic links with Peru will be celebrated and cemented next week with a goodwill visit to the Mersey by one of the world’s most spectacular Tall Ships, the Peruvian Navy Sailing Training Ship, B.A.P. Unión.
The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Brian Kenny, said:
The visit is the culmination of an active friendship between Wirral and Peru’s Navy and Embassy, which stretches back to 2011. During that time we have welcomed their Ambassador and Naval Leaders to Birkenhead many times, but I’m sure that next week’s visit by one of the world’s most beautiful sailing ships will be extra special.
I am really looking forward to meeting its crew at a number of engagements in Wirral over the coming days and cementing a friendship forged in our great shipyards 160 years ago.
The B.A.P. Unión is expected in the Mersey at lunchtime on Sunday (31 August) before berthing at Liverpool’s Pier Head at around 1pm. During her visit, the vessel will be open for the public to go onboard on Sunday (4-7pm), Monday and Tuesday (10am-7pm), and Wednesday (10am-12 Noon). She is due to depart in the early hours of Thursday 4 September.
The four masted barque, which was launched in 2015, has travelled around 9,000 miles from Peru, calling in to London docks, before joining almost 50 others in the Tall Ships Races in Aberdeen in July. Around 250 crew, including 71 Navy cadets, are onboard.
Wirral’s Heritage Champion, Councillor Jerry Williams, said:
Birkenhead’s historic link with Peru is centered on one of the most outstanding naval commanders in history, Grand Admiral Grau, who was commander of the Peruvian fleet in the 1870s and now enjoys a similar legendary status in Peru, as Admiral Lord Nelson enjoys here in the UK.
His most famous ship, the Huascar, was built by Laird Brothers of Birkenhead - which went on to merge with Sheffield firm Charles Cammell & Co to create Cammell Laird - and launched in 1866. It had been ordered by Peru for the war against Spain which at the time was seeking to reclaim its former American colonies. The vessel boasted an array of cutting-edge features, including revolving gun turrets and an iron ram which gave it a huge advantage over adversaries. Grand Admiral Grau became a Peruvian hero in a subsequent conflict against Chile, where he overcame superior forces.
Almost 160 years after the Huascar first entered the Mersey, the B.A.P. Unión will celebrate her legacy on the same waters, and at 115m long and 53m high from the waterline, I’m sure it will be a spectacular sight.
