With more than 150 vessels set to take part, and 100+ events scheduled, the four-day jamboree is expected to bring more than a quarter of a million visitors to Merseyside from June 18th.

The 2003 event proved so successful that extra ‘spill over’ berths have been booked in Birkenhead for the first time with the Tall Ships again the star attraction as council chiefs prepare for 2008.

I saw a ship a-sailing by...

Liverpool’s Leisure and Culture spokesman, Warren Bradley, says “This is one of the highlights of the city’s calendar.

"For four fantastic days,” he adds, “the Mersey is brought vividly to life and makes the city a fabulously fun place to be.”

One of the key attractions in 2004 - with vessels again filling Albert, Canning and Salthouse Docks from June 18-21 - will be the steam tug Challenge, famous for its key role in the rescue of more than 300,000 servicemen at Dunkirk in the Second World War.

This year’s river party again welcomes Tall Ships’ favourite Grand Turk with a range of newcomers like the 60-metre square-rigged Russian training boat – Mir; and the trading vessel, Glaciere of Liverpool, which was stuck at the bottom of the Mersey until last October.

The summer spectacular will also feature international canoe polo; free sailing, windsurfing and canoeing lessons; and displays from the Royal Marines on top of a range of street entertainment and craft displays.

“The festival is one of Liverpool’s great success stories,” says Bradley. “It is hugely popular throughout the UK and internationally. It is a fantastic advert – both for our unrivalled maritime legacy and the new Liverpool with all the major changes going on in the city.”