PRINCE Andrew has unveiled a £1.75 million state-of-the-art maritime training centre in Birkenhead.

The Duke of York, who served for 22 years with the Royal Navy, also revealed the new name for the Laird Foundation in Birkenhead, which merged with Mersey Maritime last year and is now known as Maritime and Engineering College North West.

Based at Maritime and Engineering College North West in Monks Ferry, the Quay Skills training programme uses virtual reality technology from the filming and gaming industries to create virtual ports, where port workers can learn to drive forklift trucks, cranes and other equipment.

The training focuses on port operations and international trade and logistics.

After a tour of the college and demonstration of the virtual reality facility, the prince unveiled a plaque with the college's new name and said: "This part of the world has obviously got huge potential for growth in the maritime sector and it's really good to see that you've actually put your minds to it locally and you're driving this maritime heritage forward in a way that's going to give these young people a future.

"It is through building up skills, training and the ability to do it in a safe, friendly environment that will mean that when these young people get out into the field and actually do it for real they'll have a level of knowledge and skill not seen previously on the dockside or quayside."

He also met learners and staff, along with representatives of maritime businesses and was given a demonstration of the new training equipment which works in a similar way to flight simulators.

The college represents more than 1,000 maritime businesses on Merseyside, providing more than 26,000 jobs in the city-region and contributing £2.5billion to the local economy each year.

After unveiling the plaque, Prince Andrew told those involved in the project: "I wish you continued success and hope that, once the place is really buzzing, you get as many people as you can to come and experience this.

"Not only those coming in at a younger age, but also those who are more senior and looking to be retrained to add to their qualifications.

"I wish you every continued success and remember to keep working together, which it is quite clear that you are doing already, in order to take this part of the world forward and into a rosy economic and maritime future."

In order to develop Quay Skills, Mersey Maritime, with the support of Wirral council received £656,000 from the Single Regeneration Budget, funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and £656,000 European funding from Merseyside's Objective One programme.

A further £450,000 investment came from the private sector.