#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where an Ireland-Libyan serving livestock-carrier, Express 1 which has been in Fowey since February following detention has been released by UK authorities.

Peel Ports Group operates of Port of Liverpool has dismissed claims of delays and budget overrun of the £300m Liverpool2 container terminal project which is to expand the Royal Seaforth Container Terminal and enable docking some of the world's biggest containerships post Panama Canal widening.

The Stena Group houseflag is flown on a diverse range of vessels, from large oil tankers and even tallships plus of course ferries, among them the newest member of the Stene Line fleet, the former Celtic Link ro-pax Celtic Horizon. The 27,522 tonnes ferry (soon to be renamed Stena Horizon) launched this week the operators first ever direct Ireland-Continental link.

Stena Line which also operates on the North Channel is where there are reports of major job losses which have been denied by the company. Clydebank based Northern Marine Management which is a Stena Line owned company, have been switching the Irish Sea ferry fleet to NMM as part of an effort to stave off a decade of loss-making services by implementing measures on operating costs.

Dublin Port welcomed Discovery (1971/20,135grt) the first cruise caller for 2014, the 700-passenger vessel chartered to Cruise & Maritime Voyages had arrived from Belfast Harbour from where she too was an inugural cruise caller this season. She is one of around 90 visitors so far scheduled to visit Dublin Port.

The newest and largest Arklow Shipping Ltd newbuild, Arklow Spray of 34,919dwt departed Liverpool's Royal Seaforth Container Terminal to Antwerp. The Irish flagged 182m vessel was delivered this year from South Korean shipbuilder's and brings to around 45 ships in the dry-cargo fleet.