#WeatherBound – Following yesterday's 30th anniversary of the East-Link Toll Lift Bridge as previously reported, the UK flagged STV Stavros S. Niarchos and OPV L.E. Aisling (P23) both made transits through the Liffey road crossing this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The departing vessels had moored at neighbouring berths along Sir John Rogersons Quay, from where the Naval Service 'Emer' class OPV firstly vacated having arrived in Dublin Port the previous day.

Within the hour so did the sale-listed STV Stavros S. Niarchos which cast off lines to head downriver having had to delay her departure yesterday due to weather bound conditions. The sail-training vessel is heading for Warrenpoint.

At 60m (197ft) long she is the largest brig built for over a century in the UK when completed in 2000. The brig is the main vessel of the sail training fleet run by the Tall Ships Youth Trust which offers sailing experience for those aged from 18 to 80. She arrived to the capital from last week and to embark new sailing recruits for a voyage that terminates in Liverpool.

As reported before on Afloat.ie, she flies the Stena houseflag as the three-masted vessel is unique among Northern Marine Management (part of the Stena Group) pool of around 130 vessels that include ro-ro tonnage to very large crude carrier (VLCC) tankers.