News - Story - Bomb

News - Story - Bomb

The Twelve Quays ferry terminal is used by ro-ro traffic to Dublin and Belfast.

Tuesday 16th May 2006
I heard that a World War II bomb had been discovered at Twelve Quays by a mine detector. I checked on the internet and discovered that the two ferries that should have been berthed were waiting off shore at the "bar".

When I arrived the landing stage was empty and I couldn't see the mine detector. I drove to Seacombe and spotted it at the far side of the river near Seaforth. I drove to New Brighton to get a better picture. When I looked for the mine detector it was heading back towards Twelve Quays (aaaagh).

I drove to Twelve Quays and after a bit of walking I got a picture at Woodside. HMS Walney (M104) is a Royal Navy Sandown Class mine hunter.


HMS Walney has visited the Albert Dock in 2003 as part of the Battle of the Atlantic celebrations.

I saw a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) arrive which I suspected was the divers.


The ferries Dublin Viking and Mersey Viking arrived shortly afterwards.

Later in the day I heard that the bomb had been moved out to sea. A diver then attached plastic explosives to it. I wouldn't fancy having to do that! At 21:00 BST the bomb was remotely detonated.



Royal Navy shipping seen in the River Mersey

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