The Liberty 80 Conference

Held on 22nd March 2025, Plymouth, UK

At The Marine Station, University of Plymouth

About the Conference

In 2015, The SHIPS Project marked the 70th anniversary of her loss with a research project and the creation of this website. We are celebrating the 80th anniversary in March 2025 as the 'Liberty 80' project and are holding a one day public conference to celebrate the life of this ship.

There will be a series of talks on subjects including:

The Battle of the Atlantic and the U-boats' Last Stand
The Development of Liberty Ships
Life and Loss of the SS James Eagan Layne
People of the SS James Eagan Layne
Underwater Tour of the Wreck Site
The Marine Biology of an Artificial Reef
Science on the SS James Eagan Layne

Call for objects recovered from the SS James Eagan Layne

The James Eagan Layne is considered to be the most dived wreck in the UK. It has been an attraction for visiting divers since the beginning of sport diving and for many divers of all generations, this ship was their first wreck diving experience. One aspect of the Liberty 80 Conference was to host a call for finds recovered from the James Eagan Layne.

The Liberty 70/80 Project is organised by The SHIPS Project CIC, a community social enterprise.