| Sea Liverpool facts | Liverpool was granted its charter in 1207 by King John, who recognised its natural potential as a port. The first commercial wet dock in the world was Canning Dock, built in Liverpool in 1715. The city's evolution has been so tightly bound to the water that surrounds it that in September of 1928 city officials organised an official wedding ceremony that would actually marry the two together, and thereby solemnise their everlasting partnership. In a perhaps not wholly un-eccentric ceremony the then Lord Mayor of Liverpool dropped a four foot high laurel wreath into the River Mersey, followed by a gold covered bronze ring which measured 20cm in diameter. The bells of St Nicholas Church rang out a wedding peel, and the wedding party made its way back to the Town Hall to celebrate. Like all good marriages the city and the sea have had their dark and stormy moments as well as periods of relative calm and prosperity. From ranking amongst the richest ports of Europe in the 19th century, mass unemployment blighted the city towards the end of the 20th century. Much of it was due to the decline of the docks and ship-building industry. By 1990 unemployment rates were as high as 30% in some parts of Merseyside. Liverpool's famous waterfront was awarded World Heritage status by the United Nations in July 2004. World Heritage Sites are selected by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee. The area covered includes the waterfront, the commercial district - an area of warehouses and merchants' houses around Duke Street -and the cultural quarter around William Brown Street. The award means that Liverpool's waterfront now ranks alongside other world-famous monuments like the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon.
Work on the new £10 million Cruise Liner Terminal close to Liverpool's Pier Head starts in April 2005. The terminal should be ready to welcome its first cruise liners in 2006, when Liverpool is expected to become a regular port of call for major cruise holiday companies. Liverpool Sea 2005 is part of the Sea Britain 2005 festival; a special, memorable year celebrating Britain as a seafaring nation and highlighting its enviable maritime heritage. The year marks the bi-centenial celebrations of the Battle of Trafalgar, the decisive battle of the Napoleonic wars, and one which saw victory in death for Admiral Lord Nelson.
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Highlights of the year include the 25th Mersey Festival, the Shanty Festival and the start of the Clipper race – and let’s not forget the celebrations taking place all over the country for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Check out the list below for a guide to some of the major events taking place throughout the year, and follow the links at the top of the page for more on them and Liverpool’s maritime history. - Dive right in!
Why not start your Year of Sea by getting familiar with Liverpool's Waterfront?Ìý You could take a guided walk along Liverpool's waterfront with a Blue Badge guide, a cruise on a Mersey Ferry, an open-top bus tour or - and hold on to your hats for this one - splash your way around the docks themselves on a Duck Tour. Click on the visitliverpool link at the top of the page for more details. - 800 Lives Project
Throughout 2005
This contemporary project about life in Liverpool since the 1940s takes place at the Museum of Liverpool Life. It features oral histories from seafarers, their families and immigrants. - Liverpool to New York exhibition 28th January – 14th August
An exhibition looking at life onboard the liners that sailed between Liverpool and New York from the 1900s to the present day. At the Merseyside Maritime Museum. - The Cruel Sea
18th February – 1st May
Reminisce with former seafarers at this community exhibition. At the Merseyside Maritime Museum.
- Making Waves
12th March
A sea-inspired showcase at the Neptune Theatre, featuring youth groups from across the region.
- The Odyssey 22nd March
A Bristol Old Vic and West Yorkshire Playhouse co-production of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖr’s epic journey. David Farr’s new production plays at the Everyman. - City of the Sea 12th – 13th April
A dramatised history of Liverpool at the Everyman Theatre. The production will be performed by Liverpool John Moore’s University’s students. - Writing on the Wall Festival 23rd April – 1st May
Taking place at the Unity Theatre, Croxteth Hall and Speke Parklands. School children will write poetry and stories through sea-themed story-telling events with people from different countries and cultures. - Special 60th Anniversary VE celebration
 | | The Tall Ships will visit us in June |
May 7th – 9th
The anniversary celebration will mark the formal celebration of the Allies' victory in Europe during World War II. Hitler committed suicide in Berlin on April 30. His successor, Admiral Karl Doenitz, sent General Alfred Jodl to offer an unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945, in Rheims, France. - Titanic the Musical 8th – 11th June
The West Kirby Light Opera Society presents this musical play at the Liverpool Empire Theatre. - Mersey River Festival June 10th – June 13th
The festival is one of Europe's premier maritime celebrations, annually attracting over 200,000 vistors to the UNESCO inscribed World Heritage Site that is the famous Liverpool waterfront. Visitors can enjoy the myriad of activities on both land and water; an experience that continues to attract people from across the globe.
- Liverpool Shanty Festival
June 10th – June 13th
Liverpool, the spiritual home of the shanty, welcomes performers from around the globe. Not just shanties but all kinds of songs and music of the seas and the rivers … in concerts, on ships, in bars, on the ferries and around the historic Albert Dock as part of the spectacular Mersey River Festival. - Lyver Trophy Yacht Race
 | | The Mathew Street Festival |
8th July
Fastnet Qualifier, Liverpool – Howth (Dublin).
This 120 mile race serves as a qualifier for the Fastnet Race which starts on the 7th August.
- Trafalgar Celebration
28th June
200th anniversary celebrations – Liverpool will be a staging port for Navies en route to Trafalgar Review of the fleet in the Solent.
- SeaSunday
3rd July
Liverpool Waterfront - start time: 8.00 am - Slavery Remembrance Day
 | | Ahoy there! |
23rd August
Liverpool marks the international day of remembrance of the slave trade and its abolition. The Pier Head serves as the focal point for the day’s events.
- Mathew Street Festival
27th – 29th August
The Mathew Street Festival is established as one of Europe's major free music events. Primarily, a celebration of the music of the Beatles, it now pays tribute to the greats of the last few decades from The Who to Oasis.
- Waterfront Classics
2nd September – 4th September
A Musical extravaganza on our World Heritage Waterfront!
- Clipper Round the World Yatch Race 2005/6 start
18th September
The fleet of 10, 65ft Clipper yachts sets sail on an epic 11 month , 33,000 mile journey. On the third Sunday of September the fleet of 10 Dubois 68s will cross the start line on the first leg of their race around the world. As they head out down the Irish sea and across the Bay of Biscay the crews will face their first test with the possibility of an autumnal gale before the temperatures start to rise on their way south to Brazil.
- Run Liverpool
 | | The Grand Turk will visit in October |
October
International ½ Marathon and 10k race along Liverpool’s Waterfront
- Visit of the Grand Turk 21st October
A visit by the replica 18th century man-o-war ship at the Albert Dock Complex.
-Ìý Bi-centennial celebration of the Battle of Trafalgar
21st – 22nd October
A series of special events across the country will commemorate the 200th anniversary of Nelson’s victory and death at the Battle of Trafalgar.
- Fireworks celebration on the River Mersey
Ìý5th November - DaDaFest 2005 24th November - 3rd December Taking place at various venues across the city this festival celebrates the best of disability and deaf arts. This year's programme explores themes such as disabled heroes, our maritim history and the settlement of foreign sailors in Liverpool.
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