Steam boats, sailing ships as well as warships took part on Sunday (May 9) in Hamburg's annual harbour festival. Crowds of visitors flocked to the embankment along the river Elbe in Germany's northern city to watch the traditional ship's parade.
On the 824th anniversary of the festivities also Britain's newest warship, the Royal Navy's destroyer HMS Defender joined the entrance parade of more than 300 ships. The seamen of the Defender stood at the railing when the British national anthem played during its passage.
The harbour festival dates back to May 7, 1189, when Emperor Frederick Barbarossa granted Hamburg an exemption from custom duties. More than a million visitors are expected to join the festivities this year, which continue until May 12.
