The world's largest sea shanty choir is set to perform in North Ayrshire.

Zawisza Czarny will sing at the Scottish Maritime Museum's Linthouse in Irvine on July 31 - and the ship whose name the choir bears will berth in Ardrossan while they are here. 

The Polish male choir is made up of ‘singing sailors’ and crew members of the Zawisza Czarny (Black Knight), the flagship of the Polish Scouting Association.

Each year, the crew of 50 men, aged between 18 and 70, embark on a cruise of international ports to promote maritime traditions through singing and music as well as celebrate their home port of Gdynia on the Baltic coast in north central Poland.

This will be Zawisza Czarny’s only performance on the west coast of Scotland this year.

During their visit to the Scottish Maritime Museum, the Zawisza Czarny will berth overnight at Clyde Marina, Ardrossan.

The Zawisza Czarny has sailed around the world since 2012. The choir comprises a full ship’s crew with captain, officers, boatswains and cooks.

All crew members have a prior connection to working at sea, sailing or marine science and to music.

Many are singers in Gdynia shanty and folk bands, cultural event animators, and descendants of Gdynia's naval orchestra bandmaster.

Eva Bukowska, exhibitions and events officer at the Scottish Maritime Museum, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the amazing Zawisza Czarny to the Scottish Maritime Museum. 

"The choir is made up of a diverse and talented group of individuals so it will be an exciting, authentic and unmissable performance.

“This is Zawisza Czarny'’s only performance on the west coast of Scotland this year.”

Gdynia boasts a rich seafaring heritage: as well as being the home port of the Polish navy, the city features two maritime museums and several maritime schools.

Gdynia is also part of the ‘Tricity’ alongside neighbours Gdańsk and Sopot, and is the main passenger port for all the three.

Tickets for the Monday, July 31 event are priced at £10 adults and £8 concessions.

To purchase tickets, and find out more about the museum’s summer events programme, visit www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org.