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Click on a topic on the left - some of the docks involved will light up. Click on them to learn what they did or ask for more information.
Click on the timeline below - what was happening in the world and what were the docks doing at the time? Click to find out.
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| Africa |
| Asia |
| North America |
| South America |
| Coastal Trade |
| Slavery |
| Names |
| Containers |
| River Mersey |
| Mersey Docks |
| Today |
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| Dock Trails |
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Liverpool has imported many goods from Africa including palm oil, ivory, cocoa and timber. Click here to learn more or explore the docks.
Liverpool's trade with North America began in the 1660s, but the city's trade with Asia didn't develop until the early 19th century. Why was this and why was Asian trade so important? Click here to find out or explore the docks.
Liverpool has dealt in many North America trades including cotton, tobacco, sugar, grain and people. Click here to discover more or see how each dock was involved in these transatlantic trades.
Did you know that Liverpool imported bird droppings from South America? Click here to discover more, or click on a dock to learn about its role in the South American trades.
Before railways and motor vehicles, often the best way to move goods and people around the country was by boat. Click here
to learn how Liverpool was involved in coastal trading, or click on a dock to learn about its history.
During the 18th century Liverpool was Britain's main slaving port. Liverpool ships carried about 1.5 million Africans across the Atlantic in conditions of great cruelty. There they worked on plantations in the Caribbean and southern states of America. Very few slaves came to Liverpool. Click here to learn more about Liverpool's role in the slave trade, or select a dock to learn about its links.
There are many fascinating stories behind the docks' names. Click here to learn how names are given, or a check a particular dock.
The heyday of Liverpool docks has passed yet the port deals with more goods than ever before. How is this possible? Because containers make transporting goods by sea faster, cheaper and easier. To learn about containers and how they work click here, or select a dock to see how they use containers.
Why were Liverpool docks needed? Why were they so successful when they were built? Click here for the explanation
We've marked only some of the many Mersey docks on this map - there are too many to include here. You can click on each lit dock to learn more. You can also learn a little bit about many of the other docks, their ships and trades by clicking here.
Some Mersey docks are still involved in shipping. Others have new roles. Click here to learn how they are being used or click to learn about each dock.
Now you've done the reading it is time to explore some of the places you've read about. We've put together two trails for you to follow.
The Ships & Quaysides Trail takes you around some of Liverpool's famous docks. You can explore the ships, buildings and machinery of the old docks and get a real sense of what went on there.
The Albert Dock Warehouse Trail explores the historic building itself and looks at all those little details that you've probably never thought about.
Old Dock was involved in Liverpool's early trade with Africa. Cargoes such as palm oil and ivory would have been brought to the dock.
Wapping Dock was primarily a passage to other docks. However its warehouses did deal with deep-sea vessels coming from West Africa.
Albert Dock was used as an unloading dock for deep-sea ships from Asia. Cargoes included:
The Albert Dock was ideal for storing goods like silk, cotton and wool. The warehouses were bonded so were safe, and also had good natural light and ventilation on the top floors to keep goods fresh.
By 1855 52% of Liverpool's total income from Asia came from the Albert Dock. The dock was very successful in Asian trade until around 1890. After this time it was too small for these ships so they moved to other larger docks.
Wapping Dock was mainly a passage to other docks. However its warehouses did deal with some trade from the Asia in the 1860s including:
Emigrants: Some of the first exports from Birkenhead were people. A depot was built in Birkenhead in 1852 for those leaving on the Emigrant Commissioners' vessels. The journey from Birkenhead to Australia or New Zealand often took three or four months.
Cargo: Much of Merseyside's Asian trade was based at Birkenhead. Companies such as Brocklebank, Bibby, Holt and Clan exported many finished goods from the Midlands (the manufacturing capital of Britain) via Birkenhead. The dock specialised in handling bulky cargoes, such as vehicles and transport systems.
Fuel: In the early days of steam ships, 'hard steam' coal from South Wales was essential. Brought to Birkenhead by rail, it was loaded into the empty bunkers of outgoing vessels and the holds of sailing ships. These vessels kept stockpiles for later use at ports around the British Empire, including Asia.
A large proportion of Seaforth's trade comes from North America, in particular:
Seaforth is a gateway to European markets for many American firms. A rail link connects the port to Europe via the channel tunnel.
The North American passenger trade was very important to Gladstone Dock. The graving dock was designed to repair the huge transatlantic
passenger liners belonging to Cunard and White Star Lines.
The Cunard liner, 'Aquitania', was actually in the graving dock when World War I broke out. She had been damaged off the coast of
Ireland in July 1914, and was converted to carry soldiers while being repaired.
The wet dock was also an important base for Atlantic escorts and minesweepers during World War II.
Canada Dock was built away from the other docks because of the fire risk of its main cargo - timber. This was mainly imported from North America (especially Canada). Timber-carrying ships were moored with their bows on the quay to allow the long pieces of timber to be dragged ashore.
In the 1860s the docks large size made it suitable for importing grain and meat cargoes from the USA. Cotton also became important after 1865. Later the dock was involved in the North Americas passenger trade.
Much of Huskisson Dock's trade has been based on North American links.
Waterloo Dock's main cargo was grain, especially from North America. The trade grew quickly after the repeal (withdrawal) of the Corn Laws and with the growth of industrial Britain. The dock had huge grain warehouses and the latest handling and storing equipment. When these became old-fashioned, the east part of the dock was turned into an oil-seed mill and the west into a corn mill.
Princes Dock was built in 1810 for the profitable sailing vessels running to North America. These vessels carried:
After about 20 years Princes Dock lost much of the North American trade. Large steam ships were built, so new larger docks were built for them downstream. Princes Dock then moved into new markets.
There was some trade with North America before Old Dock opened - tobacco was the main import. Trade grew to include cotton, rum, sugar etc.
Many ships bound for North America were repaired at Canning Dock in the 18th and early 19th century. However there were fewer visitors after the much larger Sandon graving docks opened in 1851. Some ocean-going ships were repaired or converted at Canning graving dock during World War II. However the 35ft entrance was too narrow for many ocean-going ships.
Albert Dock was used as an unloading dock for deep-sea ships from the Americas until around 1890 (when it became too small). Cargoes included:
These cargoes were made from plants that only grew at certain times of the year. Traders could store them at the Albert Dock's warehouses and release them slowly over the year. This helped to reduce the seasonal differences in supply and price.
Ships that brought cargoes such as rum and sugar from America had often already been to places such as Calcutta. They had:
Albert Dock was used as a base for escort vessels travelling across the Atlantic during World War II. This was the last real use for the dock before it closed in 1972.
The Pier Head is the site of the floating landing stage. The north end provided river berths for vessels going to North America:
Riverside railway station was opened at the end of the 19th century. This private station offered direct connections to London.
Wapping Dock was mainly a passage to other docks. However its warehouses were once full of cargo from North America. The deep-sea vessels brought these cargoes into the warehouses:
Herculaneum Dock, especially the graving docks, was very busy during World War II. Liverpool was the UK base for the North Atlantic convoy (groups of trade vessels escorted by military ships across the ocean).
North American trades were very important to Birkenhead Docks.
Railways: Bridges, rails and rolling stock (parts of trains) for the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada were
all exported during the 1850s and 1860s. They left from the specially built Canada Works on the Great Float.
Timber: The timber trade was originally based at West Float (away from other quays due to the fire risk).
Birkenhead imported less wood than Liverpool.
Grain: Imported grain was very important to Birkenhead, especially between the wars. Huge grain silos (storage
towers) and flourmills filled the banks of the Great Float during the 20th century. In the mid-1920s Birkenhead was second
only to Minneapolis, USA in the amount of grain it milled.
Animals: Large areas of land near the river were converted to lairages and railways for importing livestock. Live
cattle and sheep, as well as refrigerated meats were imported and used in several ways:
The South American trade at Princes Dock was only successful for a short time.
Wapping Dock was mainly a passage to other docks. However its warehouses were once full of cargoes from South America. The deep-sea vessels brought into the warehouses:
Much of Merseyside's South American trade was based at Birkenhead. Companies such as Brocklebank, Bibby, Holt, Clan and the Pacific Steam Navigation Company were involved.
Manufactured goods went to the new markets of South America from the middle of the 19th century. Railway and tram parts were made in the Midlands (the manufacturing centre of Britain) and then exported from the Great Float. The dock had special lifting equipment for the job.
Many raw materials were brought into Birkenhead from South America.
Waterloo Dock was very involved in the local coastal trade. It was quite small and so suited the smaller coastal vessels. Coastal vessels visited the dock until the middle of the 20th century.
In the early 20th century Princes Dock became the centre for the Irish loose cargo trade. However, by the 1960s, trade with Ireland had moved into containers. Princes then developed into a passenger terminal for B&I ferries, carrying passengers to Belfast, Dublin and the Isle of Man.
Much of the Old Dock's early business was coastal trade. Small boats ran from Liverpool to and from ports in Northwest England, Scotland, the Isle of Man and Ireland. By the late 18th century these small vessels were based in the Old Dock - larger ships were docked at the newer, larger docks.
Coastal ships became more important to Canning Dock as the size of ships increased. The size of visitors to the dock stayed the same but the type of ship changed from ocean-going to coastal boats like flats. Many cargoes were carried to local ports. The Furness Withy Group had berths in Canning where refrigerated ships loaded and unloaded cargoes of fruit. Coastal trade at canning continued until well into the 1960's.
Fishing was also a major trade for the dock. At one point Canning was the main trawler dock of Liverpool. Steam trawlers were introduced in the 1890s, and landed their catches in the southeast corner of Canning Dock. These included:
This continued until 1939 when the fishing trade died.
Canning was also a base for Mersey Docks and Harbour Board's fleet of dredgers. After the Pilotage Building was opened in 1883 Liverpool's pilot schooners and steam cutters were also based at Canning.
The Albert Dock dealt mainly in imports, rather than exports. The incoming cargo had to be moved from the warehouses to other towns and cities in Britain, often on local coastal ships.
From around 1900 the dock was too small to be used by the large ocean-going ships, and so the coastal trade became the dock's main work until just before the dock closed.
Today's Mersey Ferries run from the Pier Head to landing stages on the Wirral side of the river at Woodside and Seacombe (there had been more stops at their peak). The ferries have been used for many different reasons:
Wapping Dock was very popular with coastal vessels. These were mainly Scottish, Irish and Southern European and brought with them:
General cargo, coal and manufactured goods left Liverpool on those same ships but did not leave from Wapping.
Many coasters used Birkenhead docks for general and bulk cargoes.
Liverpool's involvement in the slave trade began in around 1700, just a few years before Old Dock opened. Therefore it was the only dock open in the slave trade's early days, and was very important in its growth. Manufactured goods were exported from Old Dock to Africa, with cotton, sugar etc. arriving at the port from America and the Caribbean.
The Canning Graving Docks were used for the repair and fitting out of slaving ships in the late 18th century. Ship repair was very important at the time shown by the fact that there were only two wet docks but three graving docks.
Slave ships also visited the wet dock. There they were filled with local goods including Manchester cottons, copper and brasswares, beads, liquor, firearms and gunpowder to take to West Africa where they would be exchanged for enslaved Africans.
The dock is named after the local town, which takes its name from Seaforth House. This was the home built by Sir John Gladstone who was MP for Liverpool in 1813. The word Seaforth is a Norse word meaning 'sea loch'.
Many people think that Gladstone Dock was named after the Liverpool-born Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone. However, it is actually named after his second cousin, Robert Gladstone. He was a Liverpool merchant, and Chair of the Mersey Docks & Harbour Board from 1899-1911. He was also involved in the founding of Liverpool University and the planning of the Anglican Cathedral.
Canada Dock was once the main dock at Liverpool for importing timber. Canada, the country, was a major source of timber at the time, and gave the dock its name.
This dock is named after William Huskisson, MP, to recognise his political impact on Liverpool's growth and wealth.
Huskisson had an eventful life (and death). It is thought he was at the fall of the Bastille (a prison which fell during the French Revolution) and to have arranged for people to flee France.
This dock was named after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. (Waterloo is in Belgium). An army of English, Dutch and Prussian troops, led by the Duke of Wellington, beat Napoleon's French army. Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena shortly after.
Princes Dock was named after the Prince Regent (the person who rules a country if the real monarch is too young, ill etc.) It opened on the day of his coronation as George IV in 1821. The decision to name the dock after the Prince was made in 1811, but by 1821 public opinion had changed because of his bad behaviour.
The Prince had a reputation for drinking, gambling, racing, affairs etc. In 1787 he was forced to ask Parliament for money to cover his debts. He later married Princess Caroline, but it is thought that he was already married to a local widow, making his marriage to the Princess illegal. The public did not like this.
His fast living caught up with him in later life and he became ill and addicted to laudanum (made from opium). By Feb 1830 he was partially blind and was convinced that he had commanded a division at Waterloo and ridden winners at Goodwood.
This was the first dock so it didn't have a name. However, as other docks were built it became referred to as The Old Dock.
Canning Dock was named after the Liverpool MP, George Canning (born in London in 1770). He worked for Free Trade and for the repeal of the Corn Laws (the Corn Laws had protected British farmers against foreign imports of corn but led to higher food prices for the rest of the population). Canning became Prime Minister in April 1827 but died in August of the same year.
The Albert Dock was named after Prince Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel, the husband of Queen Victoria. The Prince sailed into Albert Dock aboard the Royal Yacht, Fairy, on the day of the official opening in 1846. There he attended a reception for 1000 people held in the dock warehouses
The name 'Pier Head' referred to the original stone jetty (a pier to protect a harbour). However, the jetty disappeared when land was reclaimed from the river and the floating landing stage was built.
Wapping Dock is named after the nearby 18th century road of the same name. The road takes its name from a district in the east end of London.
The dock is named after the Herculaneum Pottery Company that had been based on the site. They specialised in commissioned and maritime pieces. Many of these were exported.
The Birkenhead Dock system is made up of a number of individual docks. They are:
The Royal Seaforth Dock is a purpose-built container terminal with the following features:
Even the very largest ships can be in and out of the dock in around twelve hours. They travel on regular routes to:
A large part of the Seaforth estate is a Freeport. This allows shippers to store goods in warehouses 'duty-free'.
Gladstone Graving Dock was a temporary container terminal from 1968 to 1972 (when the Royal Seaforth Dock opened). The dock was huge and had lots of land around it, making it ideal for storing containers. Gladstone is still part of Liverpool Freeport.
From the mid-20th century cargo liners such as the Harrison Line used Canada Dock. The dock also handled containers using general-purpose cranes.
Seaforth is a modern container port dealing in grain, timber and oil. It also deals extensively in North American trade.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
Gladstone was the first dock built in the 20th century. It had a huge graving dock for Atlantic liners, which is now a wet dock (Gladstone No. 3 branch dock).
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
Canada Dock is named after the country from which most of its trade, timber, came. It was based away from the other docks because of the risk of the wood catching fire. It still deals with North America through containers.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
Huskisson was built to deal in timber but lost this trade to Canada Dock. Changes made it ideal for the North America steamer trade. It was the site of the S. S. Malakand explosion during the Blitz (3rd May 1941) in World War II. 1000 tons of shells and explosives aboard the ship blew up.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
Waterloo Dock was originally the site of an observatory, built on the dock wall to provide accurate time for ships' chronometers. It later dealt in oil seed and grain. It closed in 1988 and the warehouses were converted into flats.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
Princes Dock was once the base of the transatlantic liner trade and the Irish ferry service. It has been redeveloped to form offices, hotels etc.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
The first dock built on the site of the original 'pool' is now known as Old Dock. It was involved in many trades including slavery. It was filled in to build a new customs house.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
Canning Dock was formed from the entrance to the Old Dock. It was mainly a graving dock, repairing damaged ships, but also dealt in building materials, coastal trading and fishing. The graving docks are now part of Merseyside Maritime Museum. Visiting leisure, sail-training and naval craft often tie up in Canning or Canning Half Tide dock.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
Albert Dock was surrounded by a group of fire and theft proof bonded warehouses. The dock itself quickly became too small for large modern ships but the warehouses were still used. The dock is now home to several museums, galleries, shops, bars and hotels.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
The Pier Head is the area around the Liver Building including the floating ferry terminal. It has been home to Isle of Man, Irish and transatlantic ferries. Now the local Mersey Ferries runs a regular service.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
Wapping Dock was built to link Georges, Salthouse, Canning, Albert, Dukes, Kings, Queens and Brunswick docks. It dealt with a lot of through traffic from many different places. The warehouses, which were bonded, have now been converted to flats.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
Herculaneum was once the site of a petroleum storage facility using casemates built into the low sandstone cliff surrounding the dock. It was also involved in copper ore and coal, and acted as a terminus for the North Atlantic convoy during the wars. It is now filled in and under development.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
These are docks on the Wirral (west) side of the Mersey. They are Morpeth, Egerton, Wallasey, Alfred, Great Float, Vittoria and Bidston Docks. They have been involved in many trades over the years. They are still involved in oil and UK/Ireland passenger and cargo transport.
To find out about the full history of this dock click here.
A large amount of Liverpool's dock work is based at Seaforth. The dock deals with around:
Seaforth is Liverpool's largest dock. Because it is near the mouth of the river, far fewer ships are seen on the Mersey than in earlier times. Despite this the Port of Liverpool is currently a boom business.
Gladstone Dock is still used today.
Canada Dock is still an important part of the Liverpool dock system. It has ro-ro berths and facilities for bulk oil and general cargoes. The dock is also used for scrap metal export.
Huskisson is still an active dock. It handles bulk oil and general/bulk cargo.
The north block of warehouses at Waterloo Dock was destroyed in an air raid during World War II. The east side was used until 1989. The remaining warehouses have been converted into flats, and the surrounding area is slowly being brought back into use.
Princes Dock has been partly filled and the area is being redeveloped through new and traditional trades. A new hotel, offices and a state of the art footbridge have already been built.
The Old Dock was filled in 1826 and the land put to other uses. A new Customs House was built on the site shortly after filling. It was a major local landmark and lasted until the Blitz in May 1941. Steers House, replaced it in the 1960s. This provided Liverpool City Council with office space for over 30 years. Today the site of the old dock is a car park.
The Canning Graving Docks and the half tide dock are now part of Merseyside Maritime Museum. The graving docks are home to the museum's pilot cutter, 'Edmund Gardner', and the schooner 'De Wadden'. In the half-tide dock are the motor tug 'Brocklebank' and the steam barge 'Wincham'.
There are plans to extend the Leeds-Liverpool canal to Canning Dock.
The Merseyside Maritime Museum led the way in revitalising the Albert Dock area (including Canning half tide and graving docks) when it was opened in 1980. It occupies warehouse block D, and tells the story of the port of Liverpool and the people who used it. The museum's collections reflect Liverpool's international importance as a port, including its role in the transatlantic slave trade and emigration.
In 1983 The Albert Dock Company was created to redevelop the whole site. The dock is now a major tourist attraction and home to many small shops, bars, restaurants, hotels and other businesses. The Tate Gallery and The Beatles Story museum are also based there.
The Albert Dock warehouses form the largest group of Grade 1 listed buildings in the country.
The Pier Head is still very busy:
The warehouses at Wapping have been converted into apartments.
Herculaneum had dealt in the oil and coal trades but these moved away from the dock. In 1974 the dock site was closed and filling was completed in 1983. The land has since been used as a road, a car park, offices and for some public space. The site was used for the 1984 International Garden Festival. Building is still going on.
There are no docks in Liverpool at this time but the town is starting to develop into a small coastal trade port. Transatlantic trade is already emerging and the first ships are bringing American cargo to Liverpool.
See the lit docks? They are just some of those open in this year. Click on them to learn more.
English settlers are populating America. The transatlantic slave trade is emerging. The Liverpool Merchant carries 220 slaves from Africa to Barbados.
The port is trading about 9000 tons of cargo per year.
See the lit docks? They are just some of those open in this year. Click on them to learn more.
The inlet from the river known as the Liver Pool (muddy pool) is walled around and given a pair of gates and becomes the world's first commercial wet dock. In this way ships can be unloaded at a quayside rather than by boats while they moor in the river.
See the lit docks? They are just some of those open in this year. Click on them to learn more.
A turnpike trust is set up to maintain one of the main roads out of Liverpool. This improves communications with the surrounding countryside, allowing better transport of goods to the growing port. The slave trade continues to grow with around 75,000 black slaves now in America, their transport bringing profits to the Liverpool merchants.
See the lit docks? They are just some of those open in this year. Click on them to learn more.
The South Dock (later Salthouse) opens. Profits from the slave and the coastal trades continue to grow. Liverpool is the main British slaving port and Britain the main European slaving power. Throughout much of this century England is at war with Spain or France. Many Liverpool vessels turn 'privateer' attacking enemy merchant vessels to the profit of their owners.
See the lit docks? They are just some of those open in this year. Click on them to learn more.
The American War of Independence is having a major impact on Liverpool and international trade is poor. Wages are reduced and seamen attack the Town Hall in protest.
The Sankey (1757) and Leeds & Liverpool Canals are both bringing coal and other cargoes into Liverpool for use and export. The coastal trade continues.
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The Napoleonic wars begin and have a major impact on Britain's ports. Privateers - merchant ships licensed to attack enemy merchant ships - bring huge wartime profits.
Liverpool flourishes as, unlike Bristol and London, it is well away from most of the fighting. The opening of the Grand Trunk Canal has also improved links with the industrial midlands.
See the lit docks? They are just some of those open in this year. Click on them to learn more.
The slave trade in England is abolished so Liverpool's merchants must move into new markets (many had already made the move). Many look at importing cotton and tobacco from the Americas and exporting manufactured goods around the world. At this point Liverpool is dealing in over 450,000 tons of cargo per year.
See the lit docks? They are just some of those open in this year. Click on them to learn more.
The East India Company's monopoly over trade in India is abolished. This allows other smaller companies to enter the market. Liverpool's trade with Asia increases.
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The River Mersey sees the first purpose built steam-powered boat, the Etna. Prior to this all ships have been sailing ships.
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The world's first commercial steam railway opens, running between Liverpool and Manchester. This not only helped the Lancashire cotton trade but also created a new idea of speedy travel.
Mechanisation is also causing unemployment and so 1830 sees the start of the major emigrations through Liverpool. Around 15,000 people from across Europe sail to North America.
See the lit docks? They are just some of those open in this year. Click on them to learn more.
Steamships begin regular liner services across the Atlantic, taking people and cargo to North and South America. Steamers enter the coastal trades. New docks are specially built for them away from the inflammable sailing ships.
The electric telegraph is invented allowing quicker, easier communications across the world.
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The Potato Famine forces many thousands of people to leave Ireland. Many come to Liverpool hoping for a new life and passage to other countries. It is a movement that will continue until the 1930s. Many remain in the city, increasing the mix of cultures.
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The American Civil War begins. England is supposed to be neutral. As Liverpool receives most of its raw cotton from the southern states of America Liverpool merchants are losing money. Many become involved in supplying the Confederates (South) with ships, weapons and funds.
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The Suez Canal opens connecting the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. This allows English steamships quicker, easier access to Far Eastern and Australian markets.
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Liverpool reaches its 'Golden Age' and is now the second largest port in the country after London. There are eleven miles of docks in heavy use along the Liverpool shore of the Mersey alone. Steamers now outnumber sailing vessels. The transatlantic ferries are 'floating palaces'. Cargo trade is global.
However, the recent opening of the Manchester Ship Canal means that much trade can bypass the port altogether.
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The Wright brothers achieve the first powered flight.
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The Titanic sinks on her maiden voyage. This dents confidence in transatlantic liners.
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The port is very busy during World War I. During the 1920s the port is profitable but some docks (notably from Albert to Waterloo) are using more and more outdated equipment. The decline in world trade during the 1930s hits the docks hard.
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Liverpool's links with America are of great importance during World War II. Docks provide berthing for merchant convoys bringing troops and supplies into Britain. Consequently German aircraft attack the docks doing a lot of damage.
The previous year had seen the first scheduled transatlantic flight. These planes will provide competition for Liverpool.
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Containers are first used, revolutionising the way ships operate. Royal Seaforth dock is built to receive the new container ships. The docks south of the Pier Head are still busy but are losing business.
Regular transatlantic flights threaten the passenger liner services.
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150,000 ton oil tankers are normal.
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Port activity returns and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company begins investment that continues to today.
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Container ships are now the standard. Liverpool is shifting as much cargo as she ever has but without the manpower. Merseyside's docks are experiencing a new lease of life, many used through new industries.
See the lit docks? They are just some of those open in this year. Click on them to learn more.