A historic maritime attraction
is coming to the Woodside
Ferry Terminal.
The German U-boat U-534 has
been rescued by Merseytravel,
which owns and operates the
Mersey Ferries.
It will form part of a wider
exhibition explaining the link
between the ferries and the history
of underwater warfare.
The U-boat will be sited opposite the life size model of Resurgum, the world’s first submarine, which lies on the north side of the terminal building. The scheme will complement the wider regeneration of the Woodside area. U-534 was formerly part of the Historic Warships Museum on Merseyside. It was never involved in active combat during the Second World War but used for meteorological purposes.
For technical reasons the boat will be cut into sections for transportation by water to its new site using a floating crane. High quality glazed panels installed over the end of each section will allow visitors to see inside the submarine from specially built viewing platforms. Artifacts from U-534, along with a pictorial history, will be displayed inside the terminal building.
This will complement a display planned for the Seacombe Ferry Terminal featuring the 1918 Zeebrugge Raid on German U-boats in which the original Iris and Daffodil ferries took part. This heroic raid saw the award of 200 medals for gallantry including eight Victoria Crosses. Both ferries, which operated as troop carriers and landing craft, came under intense fire.
In recognition of their role in the raid King George V decreed that hence force both boats, and their successors, should carry the prefix “Royal”.
The Mersey Ferries fleet has now undergone a £10.5 million refurbishment programme.
Merseytravel has spent a further £9 million on Spaceport, housed in a listed building at the Seacombe Ferry Terminal.The developments are part of wider strategy to ensure the world famous Mersey Ferries retain their position as the biggest paid-for tourist attraction in the region.
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