Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

An increase in a budget set by the Irish Government for a new Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) to serve the Naval Service, which will easily be the largest ship in the State’s history, in now to cost €300m. The Department of Defence,…

The legendary “Craggy Island” will once again be recreated on the Aran island of Inis Mór when it hosts the annual TedFest in March. The festival, inspired by the television series Father Ted with the late Dermot Morgan, has become…

A consultation on Ireland’s long term plan for offshore renewable energy (ORE) has been welcomed by Minister for Environment and Climate Eamon Ryan. The consultation is on the “Future Framework” policy statement, described as a long-term model and vision for…

Tramore RNLI went to the aid of one person on a pleasure boat with engine failure last Thursday evening (18 January) in the Co Waterford crew’s first call-out of 2024. An emergency call received by the Marine Rescue Co-ordinating Centre…

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has launched a new national recruitment drive to hire 52 temporary staff. IFI’s seasonal fisheries officers and seasonal fisheries assistants are to be deployed across 15 counties from April to September. Starting salaries of €29,053 per…

Waterways Ireland advises masters and owners of vessels on the Grand Canal that the Barrow Line from Lock 24 (McCartney’s) to Lock 25 (Moores) will reopen to navigation on Thursday 28 March following essential quay wall refurbishment at Bell Harbour…

AmericaOne Foundation has released a statement in response to US Sailing’s lawsuit alleging harmful practices, describing the accusations as “unfathomable”. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, three high-profile departures from US Sailing last year — Paul Cayard, Bill Ruh and Jose…

Hot on the heels of the ILCA 6 World Championship held earlier this month (where Howth's Eve McMahon qualified for Paris 2024) comes the battle for the ILCA 7 world title and the first Irish Olympic sailing trial of this…

A belated Happy New Year, everyone. We hope you are all safe and sound from Isha and survived recent storms, Isha and Jocelyn! I am bringing you some wonderful news from our North Sails product development teams. At the Dusseldorf…

Blame has been put directly to the Northern Ireland Protocol for narrowing down the options of captains, as vessels get hit by storms in the Irish Sea. With Storm Isha just over, the News Letter also reported the the severe…

Ropax Stena Nordica which has been absent from Fishguard Harbour linking Rosslare since early January, had led to a relief ferry that too left the south Wales port due to issues, leaving no ship to cover the route. Operator, Stena Line…

It was so stormy on the Irish Sea during Storm Isha that the shipping forecast had put the weather conditions just one notch away from being categorised as hurricane force, it has emerged. While on land, Storm Isha interrupted electricity…

Last Saturday, the Dun Laoghaire RNLI rescued a Cocker Spaniel named Charlie from a rocky ledge inside the west wall at Dun Laoghaire harbour. Charlie, a three-year-old chocolate brown Cocker Spaniel, had wandered down the dangerously slippy harbour wall steps…

The flagship ferry Manxman has made its first ‘virtual’ arrival at the Isle of Man Government's new £70m Liverpool terminal due to open in March. Officers of the Isle of Man Steam Packet, writes IOMToday, undertook a recent trip using…

On the Firth of Clyde, ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) announced there will be no sailings between Ardrossan and Brodick, Isle of Arran today, 23 January. Following Storm Isha, this time CalMac say the cancellations aren't down to the weather,…

As Storm Jocelyn sweeps in over the Atlantic seaboard with very strong south-west to west winds, Galway City Council has closed roads and car parks and warned of dangerous travelling conditions. Met Éireann is predicting large coastal waves with wave…

Shipyard group, Harland & Wolff has formally commenced its marine services offering under Harland & Wolff (Marine Services) Ltd, this is part of its five-market, six-service business growth strategy. (HWMS), HWMS will be focussed on growing and maturing its UK…

Bill O’Hara and Conrad Simpson from Ballyholme Yacht Club on Belfast Lough are used to travelling far and wide to race their Lasers and in Bill’s case, to officiate at world events, but at the moment, they are both on…

The controversial toxic waste incinerator proposal for Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour has been re-opened by the decision of Bord Pleanala to look again at the project proposed by the Indaver company. The latest situation has developed from a High Court…

The Port of Cork Company has issued a warning to all mooring holders in Cork Harbour that it is going to remove all unauthorised, unpaid or poorly marked moorings in Cork Harbour. “It is the responsibility of the mooring holder…