What it's like running the biggest ever ocean liner

Capt Tomás Connery, the Master of Queen Mary 2, signs the visitor's book at Liverpool Town Hall watched by Lord Mayor Barbara Murray

"The less work I have to do the better," jokes Captain Tomás Connery, master of the RMS Queen Mary 2 (QM2) ocean liner.

The 149,215 tonne vessel had been docked in Liverpool to celebrate the 185th anniversary of the Cunard line's first departure from the city.

Capt Connery, who described Liverpool as the "spiritual home" of the famous company, spoke at a formal welcome in the city's Town Hall on Friday.

He described being in charge of an ocean liner with a 1,500 strong crew, plus 2,700 passengers, as like running a "small town".

"I am basically like the Lord Mayor of a ship, that's what a master is, but people do most of work for me and the art of delegation is always a good thing to do.

"So I say, the less work I have to do the better the ship operates."

The call marks the 185th anniversary of Cunard's first transatlantic crossing from Liverpool in 1840

The QM2 is an ocean liner rather than a cruise ship, with the difference related to its hull strength, speed and ability to power through rough seas on long voyages.

Capt Connery said: "She can handle the high sea so she's built to go in the transatlantic tradition from sailing from Southampton, keeping a schedule and ending up in New York.

"Obviously she's RMS'd - she's a Royal Mail Ship - so we have to carry mail across the ocean for the post and then no matter what time we leave Southampton we will always arrive in New York on time.

"Likewise, we'll leave New York at X time and we'll make a schedule back into Southampton on arrival time.

"No matter what the weather's like, we can get there on time."

Cunard, which describes Liverpool on its website as its "spiritual home", opened its European headquarters in the city in 1916 where it remained until the company relocated to Southampton in 1926.

However, Liverpool has remained a vital destination for the cruise line.

Capt Connery said being able to berth in the city centre is also a "special" part of coming to Liverpool.

The QM2 is the last purpose built ocean liner on the seas today

He said: "For a ship like Queen Mary 2, it's a very big draught.

"It's very unusual to get into a city centre like here, especially the right in the heart.

"People can just walk off straight into the heritage of the town, where you have the old buildings and the waterfront, the old Cunard building, as you walk into town, it's very nice especially for the locals who come out and see us.

"We sailed in [Wednesday night] and the promenade was full of people already even though it was at [22:00 BST] to see the ship come in which would make it very iconic."

The QM2 is set to depart for Oban in Scotland on Friday evening as part of a British Isles Voyage.

The visit is the third and final to the city by Cunard this year following Queen Anne's calls in May and August.

Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, said: "Liverpool will always be the spiritual home of Cunard and it is wonderful to be back."