Peruvian tall ship sails into Liverpool Pier Head

The BAP Unión has travelled about 9,000 miles from Peru

One of the world's largest tall ships has sailed into the River Mersey where it will berth at Liverpool's Pier Head until Thursday.

The BAP Unión vessel is used by the Peruvian Navy for training and has been voyaging around the UK this summer, stopping off in London and participating in the Tall Ships Races in Aberdeen.

Launched in 2015, the four-masted ship has about 250 crew members including 71 cadets on its current tour.

Merseyside's links with the Peruvian Navy date to the Victorian era when the Huascar vessel was built by the Laird Brothers' firm at Birkenhead in 1866 and was later used by the 'Gentleman of the Seas', Peruvian commander Miguel Grau Seminario.

'Cementing a friendship'

The ship will be opened to the public while it is berthed in Liverpool - from 10:00 to 19:00 BST on Monday and Tuesday and on Wednesday from 10:00 to 12:00 BST - before it leaves Liverpool in the early hours of Thursday.

Mayor of Wirral councillor Brian Kenny said the ship's arrival into Liverpool was "extra special".

He added: "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.

"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".

Peru and Merseyside have a long naval relationship

Wirral's Heritage Champion councillor Jerry Williams said: "Birkenhead's historic link with Peru is centred on one of the most outstanding naval commanders in history, Grand Admiral Grau."

He was commander of the Peruvian fleet in the 1870s and "enjoys a similar legendary status in Peru as Admiral Lord Nelson enjoys here in the UK", Williams said.

His Birkenhead-built vessel, the Huascar, sailed with cutting-edge features like revolving gun turrets and an iron ram which gave it an advantage over its enemies on the seas.

The Peruvian naval ship 'Huascar' was built in Birkenhead by the Laird Brothers' firm in 1866