Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#CattleShip - In monitoring Irish Sea shipping movements Afloat.ie noted a livestock carrier that had departed Greenore Port, Co. Louth today is bound for Turkey, writes Jehan Ashmore. The purpose built livestock carrier Brahman Express with a cattle capacity pen…

Sea Cadet and UKSA Professional Yacht Cadet Jake Strachan, aged 18 from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire has been awarded the prestigious Fisgard Plate in recognition of his achievements in his Sea Cadet Class One Marine Engineering examinations. UKSA are a youth charity…

#FenitExpansion? - A feasibility study to explore the possible expansion of Fenit Harbour is to carried out next year according to Radio Kerry. Kerry County Council will spend almost €1 million in 2017 on the operation and promotion of the…

According to the latest iShip Index published by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), shipping and port activity in the Republic of Ireland rose by 2% in the third quarter of 2016 when compared to the corresponding period of 2015.…

#LoLoTrade - Irish Continental Group (ICG) total revenue in Container (Lo-Lo) and Terminal Division recorded in the period 1 January to 31 October 2016 amounted to €105.0 million, an increase of 5.7% on the previous year. For the year to…

#ShippingReview - Jehan Ashmore reviews the shipping scene from among the following stories over the last fortnight. The International Maritime Organisation IMO reach agreement to maintain deadline of 2020 for introducing global cap of 0.5% sulphur content in marine fuels.…

#NewEPSOchairman - At the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) General Assembly held in Brussels Eamon O’Reilly was unanimously elected as Chairman following a vote held yesteray. O'Reilly succeeds Santiago Garcia-Mila who chaired the organisation during the last four years. The…

#Liverpool2Opens - Liverpool2, one of the world’s most modern shipping terminals, officially opened last Friday at the Port of Liverpool by the Secretary of State for International Trade, Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP. The £400 million investment by Peel…

The importance of good and effective communication between all those on the bridge of a ship when working in a port with local harbour pilots has been stressed at a conference in Cork yesterday on the topic of ‘Pilotage today…

#PortAward - The Scottish south-west Port of Ayr, (south of Troon, see ferry report) part of the large UK ports owned group, ABP, won the top accolade at this year’s company chairman’s awards, writes Jehan Ashmore. The award is the ‘Oscars’…

#Soft/HardPorts - The Irish Times writes delegates at the All-Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit held in Dublin yesterday, heard that the UK are unaware of the hurt and anger towards it across EU. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has forecast “vicious” negotiations over…

#GlobalSulphur - The International Maritime Organistions IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has reached an agreement on global sulphur cap. The IMO last week agreed in favour of maintaining the deadline of 2020 for introducing a global cap of 0.5%…

#CarImports - Afloat earlier this month reflected on Ireland-Bristol Channel routes past and present serving the UK motor industry and of Nissan that denied speculation it would move from its major plant in Sunderland to Cork following Britain's vote on Brexit. The…

#IMDOappointments - The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) announcement of two new appointments to key management positions has been welcomed here on Afloat.ie, which offers the only regular ports & shipping coverage. Dr Edel O’Connor joins the IMDO as Business…

#Ardmore - Ardmore Shipping operators of chemical and product tankers (25,000 to 50,000dwt) has selected the UK P&I Club as its second P&I club. On the back of the steady growth in the size of the Ardmore fleet which now…

#CapeLaunch – A cargoship was launched today for Irish owners as the second of 10 in a new series from a shipyard in the Netherlands, writes Jehan Ashmore. Ferus Smit’s Dutch yard in Westerbroek, is where the single hold 5,054dwt cargoship,…