Irish Exporters Association Chief Executive Simon McKeever has said that the new route will provide extra capacity, allow market diversification and will bring extra empty containers into Ireland.

A new shipping container service from Cork to Liverpool will get underway at the end of this month.

The UK’s second biggest port operator said today it remained on track for a £780m (€1.1bn) takeover by the owner of Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport.

The battle for control of the UK’s second-biggest ports firm intensified today after Peel Holdings spent £103.8m (€149.4m) for a higher stake.