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Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
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Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Shannon Navigation that the lifting bridge at Tarmonbarry in Co Roscommon will remain closed until at least Thursday 18 April to facilitate essential maintenance works. Works at Tarmonbarry…
The Ardrossan-Arran’s main route ferry, MV Caledonian Isles remains out of action, leaving just one ferry, MV Isle of Arran to operate and also during the summer months. This has forced CalMac to axe the Ardrossan-Campbeltown (Mull of Kintyre) summer-only service also operated by the vessel that in 2013 opened the route between North Ayrshire and Argyll from where above, AFLOAT captured the ferry berthed at the peninsula port. The tourist route offered a convenient short-cut across the Firth of Clyde saving mileage and time for those travelling in south-west Scotland.
Scotland's west coast operator, CalMac, has revealed their summer timetable - confirming a single ferry will service the Ardrossan-Brodick route at the busiest time of the year, using the company's oldest large vessel on the Firth of Clyde route. As…
What funding is there to replace the Isle of Man Steam Packet’s fast-ferry Manannan in 2026? – the topic was discussed during a sitting of the Tynwald. As above Afloat captured the catamaran craft underway having departed Douglas Harbour whilst operating on a seasonal service that involves routes linking Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin.
In two years’s time, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. is due to replace the fast-ferry Manannan which has operated on seasonal-only sailings since its introduction in 2009. The 865 passenger/200 car capacity catamaran routinely operates seasonal routes, chiefly…
AQUARIUS - this 48-month project aims to provide free access to state-of-the-art research facilities across Europe to enable collaborative marine and freshwater research
The Marine Institute has announced that it will lead a major €14.5m Europe-wide project called Aquatic Research Infrastructure Services for the health and protection of our unique oceans, seas, and freshwater ecosystems (AQUARIUS). This 48-month project aims to provide free…
The restored Dublin Bay 24 Periwinkle has been brought back to the original racer/cruiser concept as first developed in Dun Laoghaire in the 1930s
The concept of the Dublin Bay 24, envisaged as a 24ft waterline 37ft LOA Bermuda-rigged racer-cruiser, was first suggested in 1934 at a Committee Meeting of the innovative yet “homeless” Royal Alfred YC in Dun Laoghaire by the owner-skipper of…
The fifth race of the six-race AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series on Dublin Bay saw sunny conditions accompanied by a good breeze
A new overall leader goes into this Sunday's final race of the AIB DBSC Spring Chicken Series on Dublin Bay as sportsboats occupy the podium places. The fourth-placed J80 Jambon has moved to the front of the mixed cruisers handicap fleet (the…
Calling All Uniformed and Frontline Services - representatives of the Defence Forces, the Fire Service, An Garda Siochana and the RNLI joined the Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Annamarie Fegan, and Volvo Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy for the launch of Beaufort Cup 2024
Representatives of the Defence Forces, the Fire Service, An Garda Siochana and the RNLI joined the Admiral of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Annamarie Fegan, and Volvo Cork Week Chairman Ross Deasy for the launch of Beaufort Cup 2024 this…
Farewell to the former flagship L.E. Eithne (P31) and helicopter patrol vessel (HPV) which departed the Naval Base Basin, Cork Harbour for the final time. The HPV was built locally at Verolme Cork Dockyard (V.C.D.) in 1984 and served the State for almost four decades, during which the ship made many firsts for the Naval Service, among them the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean to North America and also to the southern hemisphere with calls to South America. The HPV is seen above in its original appearance along with a Dauphin helicopter on the aft deck. The flagship vessel, AFLOAT highlights is historically significant given this was the last ever ship to be built in the Irish Republic.
The former flagship of the Naval Service, LÉ Eithne, RTE News reports, has departed the naval base at Haulbowline, Cork Harbour for the final time. Built as a Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV), the 1,920 tonnes ship is to be taken…
Thanks to a second place in the opening race of the 49er world championships in Lanzarote followed up with two 14th places, Royal Cork Yacht Club's Seafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan lead after day one of the first Irish Olympic trial for Paris 2024
On the first day of the Irish Olympic 49er trial, Royal Cork Yacht Club's Seafra Guilfoyle and Johnny Durcan had a better day than rivals Robert Dickson (Howth Yacht Club) and Sean Waddilove (Skerries Sailing Club) for the Paris 2024 berth later…
Cork-Belfast duo Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne competing in their Star The Iron Lotus at the 97th Bacardi Cup on Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida
Cork-Belfast duo Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne bounced back from an untypical low opening result in the 97th Bacardi Cup in Miami, Florida on Monday to post a top ten in the 66-boat fleet in the second race on Tuesday. The sole…
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Waterways Ireland, in partnership with Monaghan County Council and Fáilte Ireland, is inviting individuals, businesses and organisations to tender for contracts to create attractive visitor experiences at the Ulster Canal Marina in Clones, Co Monaghan as part of the redevelopment…
The Cornavannogue River with plumes of silt evident
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has prosecuted a forestry owner who must now pay €10,000 for damage caused to a fish spawning habitat. Michael McHugh of Kilbride, Clonee, Co Meath was prosecuted for allowing large volumes of silt to wash into…
Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland Mari Skåre with Marine Institute chief executive Dr Rick Officer with the institute’s scale model of the RV Tom Crean
The Marine Institute welcomed Mari Skåre, the Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland, on an official visit to the Marine Institute’s headquarters in Galway on Tuesday (5 March). Commenting on the visit, Dr Rick Officer, chief executive of the Marine Institute said:…
Making its debut, newbuild Arklow Grace of the G-class sets off on its maiden voyage from Delfzijl on the Dutch coast bordering Germany on the North Sea, but the cargo ship sailed to the nation’s Baltic Sea side.
After a tow from Ferus Smit’s Dutch shipyard in Westerbroek last month, newbuild Arklow Grace has since completed builder’s sea trials along with the cargo ship’s maiden commercial voyage, writes Jehan Ashmore. The tug Waterpoort towed the fourth of five…
The former flagship ferry Ben-my-Chree had been expected to remain in the IOMSPCo fleet as a backup freight carrier, above at Douglas Harbour is seen but when also operating as a passenger ferry prior to a sailing bound for Heysham.
At a Tynwald Select Committee, it was discussed whether the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company needs to maintain the former flagship ferry that served on the Douglas-Heysham route. The matter was raised at the committee sitting yesterday, as the…
An artist’s impression of the completed and installed pontoons constructed by Harland & Wolff for the Falklands Islands Port Replacement Project (FIPASS).
Shipyard and multisite fabrication company Harland & Wolff, has been awarded as the preferred bidder status for the Falkland Islands Port Replacement Project (FIPASS). The project awarded to the London Stock Exchange (LSE) listed company is focused on strategic infrastructure…
Stephen and Holly Quinn from Howth Yacht Club competing in the First Melges15 European Winter Series event in Cascais, Portugal
Home advantage proved the difference as local sailors Paulo Mansel and Tiago Leal took the first Melges 15 Winter series title in Cascais at the weekend. The reigning J70 European champion, Paulo set a fast pace that the Irish Armada…
The Stena Europe made a surprise return, albeit ‘temporarily’ to the Rosslare-Fishguard route, as the relief ferry (unlike the Stena Nordica) is currently only compatible with the Welsh port’s linkspan berth. AFLOAT adds that competitor Irish Ferries last week re-introduced the chartered Oscar Wilde on their Rosslare-Pembroke route following the departure of Norbay, which since November has been also chartered, though the ropax is currently dry-docking at A&P Falmouth, Cornwall.
Stena Line’s Rosslare-Fishguard route, which was abandoned altogether for nearly six weeks, is still facing difficulties maintaining its southern corridor service between the Irish and Welsh ports. As the Irish Independent reports, maintenance work at the Welsh port's linkspan berth…
Fireballs at the top mark by Alyson Orr - Neil Colin & Margaret Casey (14775) hold off Pat McGoldrick & Paul ter Horst (14790) at the top mark while Owen Sinnott & Grattan Donnelly (14865) chase the pair of them
After a week that saw snowfall over large parts of Dublin and further afield on Friday, Sunday was, by comparison, a pleasant spring day with sunshine and a gentler breeze than the previous Sunday. The forecast had been a mixed…
Star – world-class racing against the Miami city skyline at the 9th Bacardi Cup on Biscayne Bay
The 97th Bacardi Cup kicked off on Monday in Miami, Florida with sixty-six Stars representing fifteen nations (including Ireland) for what turned out to be a light-wind tactical challenge and no more so than for Cork-Belfast duo Peter O'Leary and…

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