Photographs © John H. Luxton 2008

It must be 40 years or more since a classic cargo liner berthed at Liverpool Landing Stage. The above picture shows the United States of America Nautical Training Ship U.S.T.S. EMPIRE STATE [VI] alongside the new Liverpool Cruise Stage on Friday June 20 at the beginning of a four day visit to Merseyside. She is owned by the United States Government Maritime Administration (MARAD) and operated by the State University of New York Maritime College. She has served as a troop transport on occasions.

EMPIRE STATE [VI] was originally built at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company of Virginia in 1962 as the SS OREGON for the States Steamship Company. She is a single screw steam turbine with a speed of 22 knots. A history of the vessel can be found on Wikipedia.