LIVERPOOL’S flagship cruise liner broke down just after being launched to a great fanfare.

Ocean Countess was the first ship to be launched from Liverpool after it fought to overturn restrictions on its terminal.

She suffered an engine breakdown hours after her send-off, due to an electrical fault which left her without power for three hours.

The ship had to be diverted for checks to be carried out.

Southampton has opposed the lifting of restrictions, pointing to the public subsidy used to build Liverpool’s facility.