#P&SReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene, where at Dover, P&O Ferries protested to the Office of Fair Trading over Eurotunnel's bid to manage Calais and Boulogne ports.

The Marine Institute's RV Celtic Explorer called to Dublin Port in between scientific surveys, one in which included a Methane-derived Authigenic Carbonate (MDAC) survey some 25 nautical miles offshore of Dublin Bay.

As a snapshot of Drogheda Port's shipping scene, nine cargoships called within 48 hours, demonstrating the busy Co. Louth port which handled more than 1m tonnes of cargo last year

Passengers booked on a Celtic Link Ferries sailing from France in advance of St. Patrick's Day, will be taking advantage of a special €1 euro fare as part of the year's 'Gathering'celebrations.

Britain's last aircraft-carrier HMS Illustrious (R06) now used as a helicopter commando carrier visited Liverpool on St. Valentine's Day and was open to the public as part of a five-day courtesy call.

Surprised onlookers along Dun Laoghaire's East Pier saw a cargoship, Myrte (6,120 tonnes) loaded with huge silver cylinders. In fact they were fermentation tanks bound for the Guinness St. James Gate Brewery. The tanks were unloaded at Carlisle Pier for onward delivery by road convoy.

An incident involving stabilisers of chartered ferry Finnarrow to Stena Line, while berthing in Holyhead, led to an evacuation of passengers and crew. Stena were forced to reactivate the HSS fastcraft on the route to Dun Laoghaire.

After a break of more than 17 years, a cattleship docked in Waterford, following the lifting of a ban by Libya on beef imports when the BSE (mad cow) disease broke out in Ireland.

There was a mixed response by ESPO and other European organisations to the EU's deal of a budget of €23 billion for transport infrastructure projects over the next seven years.

The UK's Competition Commission has provisionally found that passengers and freight customers could face increased prices following Eurotunnel's acquisition of SeaFrance between Dover-Calais.

Irish Ferries set sail for France when Oscar Wilde launched the 2013 season with a night-time departure on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar announced a €7.4m funding for a Safety Programme to carry out urgent remedial works at six regional harbours.

Not only were Stena Line forced to reactivate fastcraft HSS Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire sailings earlier than planned (continuing into summer season) but also send in for freight-ferry, Stena Scotia, on the Dublin route following the damaged chartered Finnarrow, currently berthed in Greenock.

On the Celtic Sea, French ferry operator Brittany Ferries Cork-Rosscoff route opens on 23 March for the season service served by flagship Pont-Aven.