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One of Liverpool’s historic tall ships has sunk.

Emergency services were called to the Albert Dock at 4.30am this morning to reports of a "sunken vessel", a Merseyside police spokeswoman said.

It turned out to be the 1938-built sailing ship Zebu, which was berthed near the Tate.

Firefighters used thermal imaging to confirm that nobody was on board the large ship - a wooden former Baltic trader - which is owned by Mersey Heritage Trust.

Police left the scene around an hour later with Merseyside fire and rescue initially eading the salvation operation.

A fire service spokesman said: "Firefighters were called after a boat sank in Albert Dock. Firefighters carried out a search of the inner dock using a thermal imaging camera and lighting but no-one was found in the water. Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service was called at 4.32am to near Hartley Quay in the Albert Dock area and firefighters had left the scene by 5.47am. A fire appliance from Liverpool City Community Fire Station, one from Toxteth Community Fire Station and the Search and Rescue Team responded to the call-out."

It is not the first time the tall ship has got into difficulty.

In August 2013 Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service sent two appliances and special pumping equipment to stabilise the brigantine which was listing to port. Nobody was on board at the time.

"We were called to the Inner Quay at the Albert Dock to reports of a sunken vessel. Merseyside Fire and Rescue used thermal imaging and established that nobody was on board," a police spokesman said.