#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where Express I, the first Ireland-Libyan serving livestock-carrier for nearly two decades was detained by the UK's Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA), leading to calls by the Irish Department of Agriculture to revoke the licence of the 7,089 tonnes vessel.

A newbuild oil products tanker, King Fisher docked in Dublin Port, the 7,072dwt double-hulled vessel is operated by James Fisher Everard of Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria. The vessel was built by Damen Shipyards in Galati, Romania which also completed Commissioners of Irish Lights ILV Granuaile.

The excellent high adrenaline Oscar nominated film 'Captain Phillips' about the pirated containership Maersk Alabama (1998/14,120grt), saw a fleetmate of the US flagged vessel dock in the Port of Cork a year after the 'Banana Boat' trade returned to the harbour.

Higher revenues and operating profits for Irish Continental Group (ICG) last year see container operation EUCON and Irish Ferries take a positive outlook for 2014 with passengers numbers and  freight volumes.

Rivals Stena Line surprise acquisition of Celtic Link Ferries Rosslare-Cherbourg service is set to increase the heat on the continental market. Final details are being concluded around the deal which Stena Line hopes to be in a position to take over the running of the thrice-weekly operated route with effect from Monday 31 March.

#ICGresults - The Irish Continental Group (ICG) which operates container operations and Irish Ferries, has recorded higher revenues and operating profits last year, as both passenger numbers and freight volumes increased, reports The Irish Times.

The ferry group, which also owns container shipping line Eucon as well as container terminals in Dublin and Belfast, has also highlighted a positive start to their freight business in 2014, despite the impact of "unprecedented" weather conditions.

Some 16 per cent of budgeted sailings have been cancelled since the start of the year, resulting "in some loss of discretionary passenger business and a disruption to freight business", the group said.

However, additional capacity from its new ferry, the Epsilon, helped counter the effect of the lost sailings, it added.

Passenger numbers have slipped 4 per cent so far in 2014, but roll-on-roll-off freight volumes have surged 18 per cent. For much more on this story click HERE.

#MaerskBananaBoats – The excellent high adrenaline Oscar nominated film 'Captain Phillips' about the pirated containership Maersk Alabama (1998/14,120grt), saw a fleetmate of the US flagged vessel dock to unload bananas in the Port of Cork, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Maersk Norfolk (2006/26,671grt) berthed at Ringaskiddy Deepwater Terminal and as previously reported on Afloat.ie, Maersk Line launched the liner service just more than a year ago in February 2013. Then the inaugural caller was made by Maersk Nolanville (2004/26,833grt) and she became the first such 'banana-boat' to trade to Cork Harbour since the 1970's. She was one of the largest vessels of her type to berth at the lower Cork Harbour terminal.

The liner service is operated by a pool of eight containerships and is the first ever direct service to Ireland by the Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) which is an American company, headquartered in Norfolk, Va. This company are part of the Maersk Group which is controlled by the giant Danish owned A. P. Møller-Mærsk A/S headquartered in Copenhagan.

Maersk Line bring leading banana brands from Central American ports to Europe and Cork being the first port of call, where last month the Port of Cork unveiled plans to redevelop the Ringaskiddy terminal by presenting a 3D Real Simulated Model interactive display and a public consultation.

This latest call to Cork Harbour by Maersk Norfolk involves a liner service starting in Vera Cruz, Mexico and included calls to Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, before reaching the rebel county port.

This evening the 210m Maersk Norfolk is scheduled to depart on the next leg to Tilbury and eventually to Rotterdam.

The Thames Estuary of Tilbury port has been rebranded the London Container Terminal (LCT) in face of its nearest downriver competitor, that is the new  'super-port' of the London Gateway owned by DP World. The state-of-the-art facility is a highly automated deep-sea container port.

#CleanFuels- The EU's parliament and council are to discuss in a meeting today the so-called "trilogue" on the Clean Fuel Strategy to reach a compromise and find a solution on the outstanding issues.

If necessary, another trilogue is foreseen in two weeks-time. If an agreement can be found, it can be endorsed by the Parliament before the elections.
European Sea Port Organisation (ESPO) fully supports the Clean Fuel Strategy proposal as a way to promote and enhance the use of alternative fuels as a means to further improve as much as possible the environmental footprint of the different modes of transport.

"This strategy is important because it sets out a plan for Member States and stakeholders to work towards alternative fuels. We hope that this strategy is finalised soon, in view of giving the different stakeholders a clear sign on where to go and allowing them to start or continue working towards that goal. We therefore urge the Parliament and the Council to do everything possible to reach a first reading agreement", says ESPO's Secretary-General Isabelle Ryckbost.

Two of the issues under discussion are of importance for seaports: the deadline for the provision of LNG refuelling points in core network ports and the conditions under which shore side electricity has to be provided in ports.

European ports are in favour of the pragmatic approach that is taken by both European institutions regarding the deployment of LNG refuelling points in core TEN-T ports. The aim here should be the deployment of a sufficient network of LNG refuelling points taking market realities and distances between ports into account.

ESPO agrees with the Parliament that it makes sense for such an LNG refuelling network to be deployed already by 2020 in consistency with the entering into force of the sulphur Directive. It is of outmost importance though that the relevant co-funding possibilities for LNG projects are ensured also after the 2014- 2020 period.

As regards shore side electricity, ESPO considers a compromise obliging core TEN-T ports to provide shore side electricity wherever there is demand, the costs are not disproportionate to the benefits and there is significant positive impact on the environment, as acceptable for both institutions.

The deadline for meeting this obligation is of a lesser importance to ESPO. If, as a result of an assessment it seems that shore side electricity is the most viable solution for the whole or a part of the port, ports should not wait until 2020 or 2025.

Over the last years, and in absence of any regulatory obligation, several European ports have been actively supporting this technology and exploring the possibility of providing shore side electricity in their berths. In some cases, this has lead to successful implementation projects.

At the same time, shore-side electricity must be seen as one of the pillars of a more comprehensive clean fuel strategy and might in that respect not always score as the "best" solution in terms of environmental benefits in all ports or on all berths. Ports must assess the full picture and look at this technology in combination with LNG and other upcoming innovative solutions.

"The aim of this Strategy should be to push ports to reflect as soon as possible on their way to enhance the use of cleaner fuels. Shore side electricity is certainly one of the pillars of such a strategy and reflection. If cost-effective and wherever it comes out as the best environmental solution, it should be installed. But we should not see this technology in isolation.

For berths where only LNG fuelled ships are arriving, such a technology is completely redundant. It is also clear that technologies in the field are evolving constantly. We should give ports the possibility to adapt to and invest in those as well", adds Isabelle Ryckbost.

#Ports&Shipping –The latest IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review includes the following stories as detailed below.

Industry Sentiment: Improved shipping optimism -Current market conditions were described as 'positive' by 69% of shipping industry respondents to the latest Norton Rose Fulbright annual transport survey. While this figure marked an increase in optimism from one year ago, it remains below confidence levels in the aviation and rail industries, which stand at 75% and 81% respectively.

Cruise Industry: 2014 to see positive growth - With the global economy expected to continue its recovery throughout 2014, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has projected its cruise line members (representing 95% of global capacity) will see total passenger numbers rise to 21.7million in the year, representing 2% growth on 2013.

Innovation: Rolls-Royce push forward with unmanned cargo ship design -The marine innovation engineering department at Rolls-Royce have created a virtual-reality prototype of an unmanned, or 'drone', cargo ship, which simulates a 360-degree view from the vessel's bridge. Bloomberg Businessweek reported that this technology could one day be used by land-based captains to control an entire fleet of drone ships.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 9). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#TankerNewbuild- A newbuild oil products tanker, King Fisher departed Dublin Port this morning, she is a 7,072dwt vessel operated by James Fisher Everard of Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The double-hulled 8,363m³ (10 epoxy coated-tanks) is of the '8000' design and her sister, Kestral Fisher, were outfitted by Damen Shipyards Bergum yard in Harlingen and handed over in June. Both the 104m x 17m newbuild hulls were built by Damen Shipyards facility in Galati, Romania.

Likewise this Romanian shipyard built the hull for the ILV Granuaile, the aids to navigation tender that was towed to The Netherlands for outfitting before entered service in 2000 for the Commissioners of Irish Lights.

In a two-ship order deal, Kestral Fisher which was delivered to Dutch owners De Opfeart Beheer, will too be operated on an open management basis by James Fisher Everard. As a direct reference to the newbuilds trade, the pair's sponsors who both work for the oil industry, were Petra Gaensbacher who christened the King Fisher and Michelle Hartnup for the Kestrel Fisher.

The Dutch-flagged newbuilds will carry gasoline, diesel oil, lubrication oil and jet fuels to ports and oil refineries throughout Ireland, the UK and north-western Europe. They have accommodation for captain and ten-crew, plus a guest cabin, all of which are single and en-suite.

James Fisher Everard tankers are frequent callers to Dublin Port, among them Cumbrian Fisher which was christened at the port in 2006.

As previously reported, on Afloat.ie, she undertook lifeboat-practice drill exercises off Dalkey Island in 2011. A running mate, Galway Fisher appropriately calls to her namesake port and frequently to the Whitegate Oil Refinery in Cork Harbour.

Unlike the open management of the King Fisher and Kestral Fisher, the company previously had another pair of tankers also built by Damen Shipyards Bergum, the Shannon Fisher and Solway Fisher. The fleet of the company range from 3,000 to 14,000 tons.

#Lockout1913voyage – Ben Maye (1979/548grt) the small cargoship chartered for last year's Lockout 1913 food-supply commemorative voyage as 'S.S. Hare' from Liverpool to Dublin continues to retain her Manx name despite her sale to new owners, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Bideford-built Ben Maye, and larger short-sea coaster Ben Varrey were both sold last year to Absolute Shipping Ltd, following the wound-up of Ramsey Steamship Co. after 100 years of trading because of a £1 million pensions liability.

Ben Maye's re-enactment of the steamer 'S.S. Hare' was attended by Irish and UK trade unions, among them UNITE and RMT, the UK's largest specialist transport union, which reflected on union efforts 100 years in food-supply voyages to thousands of starving striking workers during the harsh Dublin winter of 1913/1914. The last such shipment was made in February a century ago.

Also assisting the steamer S.S. Hare, were sisters S.S. Pioneer and S.S. New Fraternity which loaded the food cargo in Manchester's Salford Docks and transported along the Manchester Ship Canal to Liverpool, before bound for Dublin Port.

The Lockout 1913 centenary commemorative voyage was also reported by Ships Monthly, to mark the Manx's shipping company centenary and given the relationship of Irish and UK trade union movement, past and present.

#CattleCarrier- Express I, the first serving Irish-Libyan livestock-carrier for nearly two decades as previously reported on Afloat.ie a year ago, is currently detained by the UK's Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA), leading to calls to the Department of Agriculture to revoke the licence of the 7,089 tonnes vessel.

According to yesterday's Irish Times, the ship had been detained by the MCA in Cornwall for safety reasons after its engine failed earlier this month.

Express 1 was bound for Ireland from Germany when it got into difficulty during a gale off the Cornish coast and it was towed into the port of Fowey. For more about this story click here.

#Ports&Shipping –The latest IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review includes the following stories as detailed below.

Container Market: World fleet supply growth to slow in 2014 - Global containership fleet growth is to moderate to its slowest rate in over a decade according to Alphaliner forecasts. The revised fleet growth now stands at 5.5%, the lowest annual figure since 1999, as scrappage levels increase and owners delay deliveries to next year.

Newbuilding Market: 71 Vessels ordered in one week - The recovery seems to be well underway in the newbuilding market according to the latest weekly report by shipbrokers Golden Destiny. Despite the difficulties players have had sourcing finance through the conventional channels.

Irish Passenger Numbers: 7% increase from last January - Failte Ireland has released their Irish passenger statistics for January, recording total passenger traffic (departures and arrivals) of 1.64million, up 7% on January last year. Passenger movements by air fared much stronger than by ferry as a number of ferries were cancelled due to the adverse weather. Overall passenger numbers on cross channel routes grew by 11% in January, broken down, this amounts to cross channel air passengers increasing 13% while cross channel sea numbers decreased 1%.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 8). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#P&SReview - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where Arklow Shipping's latest newbuilds are a Dutch built 4,800dwt general cargoship and a South Korean built 34,500 dwt tonnes bulk-carrier.

As reported above, the Dutch newbuild, Arklow Bank launched last month is to be followed by the Arklow Bay, second of six new 'B' class 4,800 deadweight tons multi-purpose cargoships which have 'greener' credentials through efficient hull design yet not compromising on cargo capacity.

A German-owned containership Arslan II (1991/3,125grt) that berthed in Dublin Port more than a month ago remains in dry-dock, following difficulties off Arklow Bank in what is understood to have been an incident involving her rudder.

The 260TEU container capacity vessel, named Coastal Isle until last November, has in recent years featured frequently in file footage broadcast by RTE, particular to cover stories regarding Dublin Port and balance of trade figures.