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A CGI image of how the former RMS St. Helena, the final 'passenger' and freight ship to serve St. Helena in the remote South Atlantic Ocean and the rest of the world until an airport was completed in recent years for commercial flights. In addition a cargo-only (container) service took over by still connecting South Africa. Currently AFLOAT adds the renamed St. Helena is berthed on Merseyside undergoing conversion for a new career with Extreme E which is a radical new racing series which will see Electric-SUVs (transported onboard) compete in the most remote corners of the planet that have been impacted by climate change.
Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, reports BBC Top Gear, has announced the creation of a new team to compete in the inaugural season of Extreme E with a team called ‘X44’. Now, Hamilton you might be familiar with (six F1…
Applications Open For Latest Radio Surveyors Panel
A call for applications has been launched for the latest three-year panel of radio surveyors. As with previous iterations, this panel will carry out statutory radio surveys on Irish seagoing vessels, including fishing vessels greater than 15m LOA, for compliance…
Irish Maritime Administration Launches Engagement Survey
A new survey from the Irish Maritime Administration (IMA) of the Department of Transport encourages feedback regarding its communication with stakeholders and service users. Marine Notices are one method used to communicate important information by the IMA and its divisions,…
Member – Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) was established on the 1st of January 2007. The remit of the Authority includes promotion, detection and enforcement of sea-fisheries and seafood safety legislation, regulations, notices and statutory instruments, to protect and conserve fisheries resources…
Dara Calleary has tendered his resignation as Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine following his attendance at a golf dinner this week
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Dara Calleary has tendered his resignation with immediate effect, after attending an event in Clifden, Co Galway, just a day after new Covid-19 measures were introduced. The Fianna Fáil Mayo TD, who had only…
Father and son team – Patrick & Morgan Oliver aboard their 7 Metre Cheetah Class Catamaran in Galway Docks today (Saturday)
It says everything about the announcement that Patrick Oliver of The Claddagh in Galway and his son Morgan are to receive the Afloat.ie National Seamanship Trophy with immediate effect, when we realise that everyone in the country will know exactly…
Walkers take a selfie over Lough Derg
Waterways Ireland is part of a new Government campaign promoting responsible behaviour when enjoying the outdoors and help turn back a recent increase in litter hotspots, particularly in scenic locations. ​Love This Place, Leave No Trace is a joint initiative…
Ship docked at Dublin Port
An update has been issued for the Seafarer/Fisher Medical Examinations Scheme, detailing medical and eyesight standards and a list of approved doctors. The updated scheme supersedes that previously issued in mid 2014 and is included in Marine Notice No 34…
Brian Black was a noted Arctic sailor and environmentalist who was profoundly concerned by the deterioration of climate conditions globally, and particularly in high latitudes
Brian Black, the multi-media communicator, Arctic sailor, and environmentalist, died today (Tuesday) after a tragic accident at noon when his car plunged off the pier at his home village of Strangford in County Down. Originally best-known as a presenter with…
London Commuter's Call: The first branded 'Uber Boat' by Thames Clippers (Afloat above has identified as Jupiter Clipper) set sail on the River Thames today, marked the start of a partnership between Uber and commuter / tourism operator Thames Clippers. Unlike the Republic's August Bank holiday Monday, London cummuters today used the rebranded catamaran craft (with brackdrop of National Maritime Museum, Greenwich) where the new 'Black & White' livery clearly demonstrated a greater emphasis on 'Uber Boat' branding. This compared to the discreet all lower-case typeface of 'thames clippers' which is discernable albeit using smaller letters on the right.
Afloat reported last week, the later than planned opening of Dublin's 'seasonal' Liffey Ferry service due to Covid-19 travel restriction measures which too were eased in the UK where the London based year-round operator Thames Clippers began service seven weeks…
Exam Schedule For Certificates Of Competency Now Available
A full schedule of the Irish Maritime Administration examinations for Certificates of Competency as Deck Officers, Marine Engineer Officers, Skippers and Second Hands for the year commencing 7 September 2020 is included in Marine Notice No 28 of 2020 attached…
The ceramic amphoras could date from the first century AD
A routine inspection of a frozen seafood shop near Alicante in Spain has revealed a trove of ancient Roman artefacts, as the Guardian reports. Objects including a number of ceramic amphoras — receptacles for carrying oil and other liquids —…
The new and the traditional – Clifden Boat Club is saluted by classic Galway Hookers
Clifden Boat Club is the primary sailing and boat sports access point for the picturesque town of Clifden, the natural capital of Connemara, the “Land of the Sea” on Ireland’s far west Atlantic coast. While the club’s history goes much…
Dara Calleary is Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo
Dara Calleary has been named as the new Minister for Agriculture and the Marine following last night’s dramatic sacking of Barry Cowen from the post. RTÉ News reports on the new appointment confirmed today (Wednesday 15 July) by Taoiseach Micheál…
Barry Cowen is Fianna Fáil TD for Offaly and had been in the role of Minister for Agriculture and the Marine for only two weeks
Ireland’s new Marine Minister has been sacked from his role amid controversy surrounding a three-month road ban he received for drink-driving in 2016. RTÉ News reports that Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen’s appointment as Minister of Agriculture and the Marine…
UK Waters: The Home Office said at least 480 migrants attempted to cross the English Channel on Sunday, where AFLOAT adds above is a UK Border Force Coastal Patrol Cutter (CPV) Eagle. The agency has staff at airports and ports among them a base in the Port of Dover. The next busiest ferryport in the UK is Holyhead, Wales where Afloat tracked just over a month ago another such craft, CPV Active which departed Liverpool to arrive at Holyhead Boatyard. Also in port were a pair of Royal Navy 'Archer' class training boats, HMS Biter (P270) and HMS Charger (P292) which departed Holyhead Marina in the west of the harbour and when bound for Liverpool. Today another Archer class HMS Tracker (P274) is berthed at the facility.
Migrants in record numbers, reports BBC News, have crossed the [English] Channel on the day the home secretary announced a "new operation approach" to dealing with small boat crossings. The Home Office said 180 migrants made the crossing to the…