On 5 January the 260TEU container vessel Coastal Deniz (1991) made a first-ever voyage up the Mersey and then the Manchester Ship Canal to Irlam Container Terminal. The vessel is normally employed, along with her sister vessel Coastal Isle (1991), on the Coastal Container Line service from Liverpool Seaforth Dock to Ireland.
Irlam Container Terminal opened in 2004 when Philipp and Nordsee were used on the service. After some time it was decided to operate the service between Seaforth terminal in Liverpool and Irlam with a Dutch tug, Daisy Doardo, which pushed dumb barges In 2010. In 2012 Daisy Doardo was sent back to Holland and the 160TEU coaster Monica took over. A trial service with Coastal Deniz was undertaken to see if it is economical to operate with a larger vessel. RC
