DULUTH — Duluth tourism officials are hoping to make next year’s tall-ships festival at least as large as the one that brought nine ships to town two years ago.

Visit Duluth President Terry Mattson said his agency is hoping to bring in 10 ships.

Duluth is scheduled to be one of the ports for the 2013 Tall Ships Challenge. The event will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the major military events of the War of 1812 that took place in the Great Lakes.

Tourism officials also hope to give visitors more chances to sail aboard the ships. Mattson said tickets went fast last time.

He also said by having some ships out on the water, that leaves more room at the docks for additional ships.