The ship has been on anti-drugs duties in the Carribean

The trip, which starts on Thursday, is being viewed as a homecoming as many of the crew are from Merseyside.

The ship has been in the Caribbean on an anti-drugs operation, targeting traffickers.

Among the crew's successes was the seizure of �100m-worth of cocaine and the confiscation of �11m-worth of marijuana after high speed chases of motor boats.

The ship even rescued a man who had been drifting in the Caribbean Sea in small boat for 26 days.

HMS Grafton is to spend the rest of the year in UK waters concentrating on training and essential maintenance.

The ship will not be open to the public in Liverpool but organised trips from schools, colleges and other organisations are planned.