Displaying items by tag: Alex Von Humboldt II

23rd March 2023

Tall Ship Alex Von Humboldt Sails into Dublin Bay

As if to signal the start of summertime this Sunday, a magnificent three-masted Tall Ship arrived on Dublin Bay this morning, and with her spring arrival, the promise - perhaps - of a bumper 2023 Irish boating season ahead.

The German-flagged Alex Von Humboldt II sailed into the capital's waters overnight after a 12-day sail from Ponta Delgada in Portugal.

Built in 2011, as Afloat reported here, the 65-metre-long ship anchored in the south of the Bay.

The ship is a civilian square-rigger offering tall ship voyages, regardless of previous experience, from her home port of Bremerhaven.

With rigging resembling a wind jammer of 150 years ago, Alex II has been built with a traditional barque rig. That means the fore and main mast carry square sails while the sternmost, the mizzen mast, carries gaff sails.

At 0900 hrs on March 23rd, her traditional barque rig was identifiable on this Dublin Bay ship anchorage webcam here before she weighed anchor and moved up into Dublin Port under engine, arriving at the mouth of the River Liffey at 10 am.

Alex II is driven by 24 sails with a sail area of 1.360 m2. In favourable wind conditions, she runs up to 14 knots.

The Alex Von Humboldt II will compete in this summer's Tall Ships Races 2023. The international fleet of Tall Ships and Small Ships will return to Den Helder, Hartlepool, Fredrikstad, Lerwick and Arendal from 29 June to 6 August.

Published in Tall Ships

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About Foyle Port

Foyle Port, located in the North West region of Northern Ireland, is estimated to handle around 2 million tonnes of cargo per year, with a trade value of approximately £1 billion. The port plays a crucial role in facilitating the import of essential agri-products, supporting around 20,000 farms in the region, as well as various local business sectors such as fuel/oil and construction industries. The organisation supports an estimated 1000 direct and indirect jobs.

Originally located in the bustling heart of Derry City, the Commissioners relocated the port to its current deep-water location at Lisahally in 1993. The terminal boasts an impressive 440 metres of quay and can accommodate large vessels of up to 62,000 DWT. Foyle Port is primarily a bulk port and a significant importer of essential commodities such as oil, coal, animal feed, fertiliser, and plywood, all of which are vital for the North West rural region.

Since 2003, the organisation has experienced significant growth, doubling both turnover and profit and attracting approximately £100 million of inward investment to the region. This investment has supported projects, including a fertiliser plant, an oil tank farm, and a biomass power station.

Established by Act of Parliament in 1854, the Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners is an independent statutory authority with a duty to develop, maintain and operate to the highest standards of efficiency, financial prudence, environmental awareness, safety, and security. The Port is independent of the Government and is self-financing. All financial surpluses are reinvested in the business for the benefit of future generations of stakeholders.