Displaying items by tag: Portsand Shipping News

9th November 2015

UK Liner Agency Kestrel Group Enters Irish Market

#NewLinerAgency – A UK liner agency, the Kestrel Group enters the Irish market this month.

Operating as Kestrel Liner Agencies (Ireland) Ltd, the firm will open its first office in Dublin, and the new entrant is expected to open further offices soon in Cork and Belfast.

The new entrant takes over the business of Greenco Shipping and the existing shareholders and employees will join the new company.

Kestrel Liner Agencies (Ireland) Ltd will represent Hoegh Autoliners, Tropical, Universal Africa Line, Cargo Levant, Nirint Shipping, Ecuadorian Line, South American Independent Line, Onego, Fednav and Nordana.

The Kestral Group was the first UK liner agent to combine liner agency with forwarding and NVOCC activity. The Group has formed strategic partnerships and joint ventures to grow the business into a global brand.

Andy Thorne, Group Chairman of Kestrel said: "Following our growth last year, opening in San Francisco in May and Cape Town in November, I am delighted that we have been able to conclude this expansion into Ireland. This is great news for the whole of the Irish market, giving shippers and consignees greater choice of carrier, and principals extended coverage.

The chairman added, “Kestrel is the first new Liner Agency business in Ireland for many years and I am certain that our stellar growth experienced elsewhere will be mirrored here. I am delighted that John Lalor, Bob Kevitt and their team are joining us.

It was confirmed by the chairman that Kestrel Liner Agencies (Ireland) Ltd will be recruiting additional sales personnel in Dublin, Cork and Belfast to assist the new strategic partnerships to grow the business. “The agency will be looking for self-motivated freight people to join, so if you know how to find logistical solutions for customers, are relationship driven and want to join Europe's fastest growing Liner Agency business, please do contact us."

Further planned expansion for 2016 includes the UAE, Namibia and additional offices in the Caribbean.

In 1994 Kestrel was formed and is the only shipping company to be named in the Queen's birthday honours list in the UK, receiving the much coveted Queen's Award for International Trade.

Published in Ports & Shipping

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Masterplan for Shannon Foynes Port Company

A masterplan for Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC), the state's second largest port operation, is to look into the marine infrastructural requirements for the next three decades along the 500 sq km Shannon Estuary, writes Jehan Ashmore.

SFPC's Masterplan Achieving the Vision 2041 will be a public consultation process and with the participation of port's stakeholders and interested parties. The masterplan aims to capitalise on the significant growth potential and focus promoting the port as a strategic economic driver for the mid-west region.

Port expansion options are to be examined so to prepare ports for larger trade volumes when the opportunities arise. Also under consideration are the non-core assets at the Port of Foynes and Limerick Docks. To read more about the masterplan and the challenges and issues that has been identified in both ports click HERE.

The statutory jurisdiction of the estuary is under the control of SFPC, which is responsible for the estuary that runs from the mouth entrance marked by Kerry and Loop Heads and stretching far inland to Limerick City. The natural waterway can handle vessels of up to 200,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt) which are the largest ships that can dock in Irish waters.

Published in Shannon Estuary

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Take a View From the Bridge

This year's Cork Harbour Open Day is set to be an action packed programme of events and activities including for the first time a free open day at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Ringaskiddy, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Tours of the impressive campus (12 noon to 5pm) will incorporate the panoramic bridge ship simulators, the survival pool and the marine workshops. To watch the technological and highly-skilled training exercises undertaken by the students click VIDEO and or further information in general about the nautical college visit www.nmci.ie

In the evening the Cork Corona Film Festival will hold a fundraiser themed the 'Amazing Cork Maritime Experience' at the NMCI from 5pm onwards.

Also in Ringaskiddy, at the Deepwater Quay, Fastnet Lines' 22,000 tonnes Julia will be open to the public between 11am to 3pm. This will allow those to tour the facilities of the 1,500 passenger/325 vehicle capacity ferry which has operated the year round Cork-Swansea route since last year.

To enable visitors to visit the events spread across the world's second largest natural harbour, a free shuttle-ferry service connecting Ringaskiddy, Monkstown,Cobh, Aghada and Crosshaven will be operating on the day. The ferry service is sponsored by the Port of Cork Company and National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI).

Published in Cork Harbour

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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro.

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race.

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind.

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

It starts in June or July from a French port.
The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
Since 1990, all boats are of one design.