Belfast Lough Deepened for Record Breaking 'Cargo' Ship

17th October 2012

#BELFAST LOUGH- The record for the largest single cargo shipment to Belfast Harbour over its 400-year history was broken last Saturday, reports The Belfast Telegraph.

The record was set by the bulk carrier 'Royal Breeze' which was laden with 56,000 tons of coal, having sailed across the Atlantic from Virginia. The vessels mammoth tonnage dwarves the previous largest cargo to arrive at the port of 41,000 tons and follows the deepening of Victoria Channel in Belfast Lough to cater for such large vessels.

The coal is destined for AES UK's Kilroot power station and was unloaded by the harbour's newest crane, the £2.8m, 40m Gottwald - the largest crane in use in any UK or Irish port.

Published in Belfast Lough

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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