The public transport service set to shuttle the hundreds of thousands of people visiting the Tall Ships will be the biggest operation Translink has ever organised in Northern Ireland.

The massive free event, from this Thursday until Sunday, will be one Ulster’s biggest-ever spectacles, and is expected to draw several hundred thousand people.

The 40 Tall Ships in the Maritime Festival will berth along Queen’s Quay, Abercorn Basin, Donegall Quay and Albert Quay.

And to keep congestion to a minimum three major park and ride facilities with thousands of spaces across the city will open.

The PSNI, Belfast City Council and Translink have appealed to people to plan ahead.

PSNI's head of community safety for south and east Belfast, Superintendent Chris Noble, said his priorities were to minimise disruption and keep everybody safe.

“Police will robustly enforce traffic and parking restrictions to ensure the smooth flow of traffic,” he said.

“It is essential that everybody follows the signage that will be in place as well as instructions by police and other agencies to make sure that disruption is kept to a minimum and this can be a safe, enjoyable event for everyone.”

Roy Sloan, Translink Metro service delivery manager, said a lot of planning has gone into providing public transport.

Ciaran Rogan of Translink said the best way to avoid traffic and parking headaches is to use bus and rail services.

Mr Rogan added that special Ulsterbus Tall Ships day tours departing from Ulsterbus depots have been arranged right across Northern Ireland.

For more information log onto www.gotobelfast.com or www.translink.co.uk/tallships.

Read more stories at belfasttelegraph.co.uk/tallships/

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