Sharpend

Ship Familiarisation Course

For over 35 years, Brookes Bell has been welcoming delegates to Liverpool for our world-famous Sharpend ship familiarisation course. 

Since the late 1980’s, thousands of maritime professionals have been given an insight into ships and their operation via technical lectures and presentations, ship visits and, more recently, a 360° bridge simulator.

The state-of-the-art simulators, located in Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) Maritime Centre, allow delegates to experience geographically accurate virtual environments which respond and react just like you would expect at sea. 

Ship visits take place in and around the Port of Liverpool – an enclosed 7.5-mile (12.1 km) dock system that runs from Brunswick Dock in Liverpool to Seaforth Dock, Seaforth, on the east side of the River Mersey and the Birkenhead Docks between Eastham and Wallasey on the west side of the river.

Complemented by technical presentations from our experts, the Sharpend offers shore based maritime professionals unrivalled first-hand experience of merchant shipping.

Held over three days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), the course fee includes accommodation in a 4-star city centre hotel, all subsistence, PPE and Brookes Bell corporate gifts.

Sample Itinerary

* the above is included in the course fee unless otherwise stated.

2026 dates

• Tuesday 16 March
• Tuesday 14 April
• Tuesday 19 May
• Tuesday 16 June
• Tuesday 7 July
• Tuesday 15 September

Cost

• £1,300.00 (plus VAT)
• The course fee is inclusive of hotel accommodation (4 star city centre hotel), subsistence and transport during the course.  Delegates are responsible for arranging their own transport to and from Liverpool.

To find out more or to book your place on a Sharp End course please email elizabeth.bridgelock@brookesbell.com