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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Due to the ongoing crew crisis, LÉ William Butler Yeats, is one of only two Naval Service patrol vessels currently operational up to the end of this year, with the remaining majority of vessels tied-up in Cork Harbour, however the Government is to double a Patrol Duty Allowance effective of 1st January, 2024 in an effort to get the patrol vessels back to sea.
Naval Service crew are to see their allowance payment doubled as the Government has announced such payments will take effect, but only after ten days are spent at sea, reports RTE News. Currently, the Patrol Duty Allowance (PDA) is paid…
After completing successful flight tests, the Candela P-12 ferry enters serial production in Stockholm. The world’s fastest electric passenger vessel is anticipated to cut operational costs by 50% compared to diesel vessels, speeding up the shift to sustainable transportation on water. On its inaugural route, it will slash commuting times in half thanks to an exemption from speed limits
In a breakthrough advancement for sustainable maritime transport, Swedish tech company Candela Technology AB announced today that the Candela P-12, the world's first electric hydrofoiling passenger vessel, has successfully completed test flights in Stockholm. It is now progressing into serial…
A mother and baby Sperm whale. Sperm whales were a primary target of the commercial whaling industry from 1800 to 1987, and their population is still recovering and listed as an endangered species
Irish waters are home to almost 400 sperm whales, and now the Caribbean island of Dominica says it intends to create the world’s first dedicated reserve for this particular cetacean. Dominica has some 200 species named after the waxy substance,…
The Black-legged Kittiwake has declined by 42% since the last census, but the population in Northern Ireland “bucks this trend” and shows an increase of 33%, according to a published census
Over three-quarters of seabird species breeding in Ireland have increased, with only two species declining, according to a census just published. The “Seabirds Count” census shows that Ireland is particularly important for species such as Roseate Tern and European Storm-petrel…
Top of the Nacra 17s - Anna Burnet and John Gimson’s bid for Paris 2024 gold enjoyed a timely boost as they were crowned Nacra 17 European champions for the second time in three years
The UK catamaran pairing that set the fastest cross-channel time between Northern Ireland and Scotland in September have become European Champions in the mixed Nacra 17 class. Great Britain's Anna Burnet and John Gimson clinched the title at a light-weather edition…
RORC member Peter Bacon skippered the Xp44 Lucy Georgina to a win in IRC 2 in the  2019 Transatlantic Race. The New York Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club, in partnership with the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Storm Trysail Club, have announced the Transatlantic Race 2025
One of offshore racing’s great adventures will return in 2025. The New York Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club, in partnership with the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Storm Trysail Club, have announced the Transatlantic Race 2025, which…
Teams from Queens Belfast in the north to Baltimore SC in the south will be taking part in the Firefly dinghy-based ITRA 75 Team Racing National Championships at the Royal St George Yacht Club
Eighteen teams are lined up to contest the 75th Team Racing National Championships in the Royal St George YC in Fireflies this weekend, supported by a team of 35 volunteers on and off the water under the watchful eyes of…
Charlie Enright, skipper of 11th Hour Racing Team, receives the Team of the Year Award from World Sailing CEO David Graham at the 2023 World Sailing Awards in Málaga on Tuesday 14 November
The Ocean Race 2022-23-winning 11th Hour Racing was named Team of the Year at the World Sailing Awards ceremony in Málaga, as previously reported on Afloat.ie. And skipper Charlie Enright was on hand to pick up the prize on Tuesday…
The flotilla in support of the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign gathered outside the Palace of Westminster on Tuesday 14 November
A flotilla of boats delivered a visual and vocal message to Westminster on Tuesday (14 November) that funding cuts for Britain’s canals and rivers are unacceptable and damaging. Cheered on by a group of supporters on Westminster Bridge, the mix…
A rock ramp fish pass constructed in the River Burren, Co Carlow, helping to make the barrier passable to a wide range of fish species
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is to provide more than €1 million in new grants to support fish and their habitats in rivers nationwide. IFI’s Habitats and Conservation Scheme funding call for 2024 is now live and expressions of interest can…
Thun Resource, leadship of the ‘R-class tankers was launched in Leer last Friday at Ferus Smit’s German shipyard for Swedish-lake based owners, Thun Tankers, which call to Dublin Port almost daily, among them Thun Lidköping (today, anchored in Dublin Bay). The town of Lidköping is located on Lake Vänern which is connected to the sea by shipping canals to the Skaggerak.
A newbuild class for a Swedish lake-based shipping operator was launched at Ferus Smit’s shipyard in Leer, Germany, as leadship Thun Resource entered the water last Friday, writes Jehan Ashmore. At the morning launch of Thun Resource, the newbuild became…
Peel Ports and Suardiaz launch on Merseyside (Eastham) a UK-first with the opening of a £10m Green Automotive manufacturing Hub, to significantly reduce supply chain emissions in the North-West England. The facility welcomed the Suardiaz ro-ro vessel, Afloat adds, Friedrich Russ from Vigo Port in Spain, to where it returned last night, on a service that will operate twice-weekly.
Across the Irish Sea, Peel Ports Group on Merseyside and Spanish shipping operator, Suardiaz Lines launched a UK-first Green Automotive manufacturing Hub, which will significantly reduce supply chain emissions in the north-west England.  The £10 million facility which is the…
Mainport’s newest addition is the 60m vessel Mainport Edge which will be used as an offshore wind survey ship, which in 2015, was almost completed at a shipyard in Fujian, China and but is now fully built. At the shipyard is Mainports’ senior technical supervisor Vince Gallagher and local based supervisor Xiao.
Cork based shipping group, Irish Mainport Holdings have confirmed the purchase of another ship named Mainport Edge following a ceremony held last week at a shipyard in Fujian, China, writes Jehan Ashmore. Afloat.ie contacted Mainport which said that the vessel was 90%…
There's no better way to embrace the festive spirit than embarking on a Christmas Rib Trip along the River Liffey!
Explore the Winter Lights on the River Liffey Like Never Before with the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School this Christmas! There's no better way to embrace the festive spirit than embarking on a Christmas Rib Trip along the River…
Shannon One Design No 73 winning the fiftieth anniversary Wolf regatta at Lough Derg Yacht Club
The Shannon One Design (SOD) Wolf Regatta celebrated its 50th anniversary following last year’s Centenary of the class, previously reported in Afloat. 50 years ago, in 1973, Donal Gleeson, with his wife Renée, planned an end-of-year regatta, ‘the Wolf regatta’…
2023 Shanahan Cup winners St. Michaels College are presented with the trophy by Ruth Shanahan and pictured with Glyn Williams of the INSS. St. Michaels College Team Leader Max Cantwell holds the trophy and is accompanied by team members Christian Ennis, Rory McMullan, Peadar Doyle, Michael Byrne and Alex Deasy
The Shanahan team racing Cup returns for the 2023/24 season in a new format at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Hosted by the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School in conjunction with Gonzaga College SJ, the event will be run over three…
Richard Robinson of County Antrim Yacht Club received an Outstanding Contribution award from Princess Anne
Two of Northern Ireland’s most committed volunteers were recognised at the RYA Volunteer Awards in London last Friday (10 November). Richard Robinson of County Antrim Yacht Club received an Outstanding Contribution award, while Jack Kennedy of Strangford Lough Yacht Club…
Foyle College Ambassadors were engaged in river and woodland habitat studies in Ness Woods
In late October and early November, Foyle College became the latest and final school to complete the 2023 Foyle and Carlingford Ambassador Programme after a week of engagement and educational workshops across the Foyle catchment area. On the Monday, 21…
Tom Slingsby wins the 2023 Rolex World Sailor of the Year award
Sailing’s highest achievers were honoured at a glittering World Sailing Awards ceremony in Málaga. The 2023 Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards were presented to Tom Slingsby and Kirsten Neuschäfer, in a contest decided by an expert panel and…
A trailing-suction hopper dredger, Freeway arrived to the Port of Waterford’s main terminal, Belview, today, following a repositioning passage from the UK, where works recently took place at English Channel ferry ports, Portsmouth and Newhaven. This week, Freeway is to start a maintenance dredging campaign along the Waterford Harbour estuary with disposal of spoil to take place offshore of Hook Head.
A dredger was tracked arriving to the Port of Waterford today, following works carried out in UK south coast ferry ports on the English Channel, however this week work is to start along the Waterford Harbour estuary, writes Jehan Ashmore.…

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