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U-534 rides a wave of popularity: 09 February 2010; The U-Boat Story is proving to be a resounding success with visitor figures more than 30 per cent above target in the first year.

This month the attraction which is based at the Mersey Ferries Woodside terminal, will have received more than 49,000 visitors since it opened compared with the original target figure of 28,000

Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel which owns and operates the Mersey Ferries, said: ”We’re absolutely delighted. It has exceeded our expectations.

“The old Historic Warships Museum only managed 28,000 visitors in a year – and they had three warships as well as U-534.

“U-534 has captured everybody’s imagination. We’re getting visitors of all ages from all over the world as well as from around the region. The u-boat seems to be capturing the imagination of people of all ages.

“In the past year we’ve had the crew of a British nuclear submarine – who presented us with a plaque – the German Ambassador to the UK and members of the British Legion.”

U-534, one of only four remaining in the world, was rescued from an uncertain future by Merseytravel after her previous home, the Historic Warships Museum in Birkenhead, went into voluntary liquidation.

Merseytravel stepped in when the u-boat was in danger of being sold for scrap.

The U-Boat Story is open every day 10.30am – 5.30pm, with last admission at 5pm.; Back to Media Centre