Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine

French Ferry Group Invests in Ro-Ro Cargo Ship Powered Mainly by Wind to Sail Across Atlantic
11th January 2023 Ferry
Mediterranean operator Corsica Ferries has announced this week it is investing in Neoline Armateur, a company that will build a 136m cargo ship powered mainly by wind to save more than 80% of fuel compared to a conventional ro-ro vessel.…

Dublin Port Company (DPC) has announced that P&O Ferries and Seatruck will move locations within Dublin Port from January 23rd 2023. The move will see P&O Ferries relocate from existing Terminal 3 (East Wall Road) to Terminal 5 (T5), at…

Order a New Yacht From MGM Boats at boot Düsseldorf and Get Travel Expenses Back? That’s a Big Deal!
11th January 2023 MGM Boats
MGM Boats in Dun Laoghaire will have a full sales team at boot Düsseldorf from 21-29 January — the largest indoor boat show in the world. Aside from their dedicated brokerage stand (E45 in Hall 5), MGM Boats will have…

A call for fresh inquests into the deaths of 50 people in the 1979 Betelgeuse tanker explosion on Cork’s Whiddy Island has been made by international maritime expert Michael Kingston. Kingston, whose father Tim died in the explosion, has written…

Foynes Yacht Club on the Shannon Estuary welcomes Vincent Murphy on Friday evening, 13th January, at 7.30 pm, to give a 100th-anniversary presentation on the life of the late circumnavigator Conor O’Brien. In 1923-25, O'Brien became the first amateur skipper…

Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue has said he is increasing the budget for scrapping whitefish fishing vessels from 60 million to 75 million euros. As Afloat reported earlier, offers will be made to 57 owners, he said, and tax reliefs…

The Irish Coast Guard Rescue 115 search and rescue helicopter team has sought to enlighten people on one frequently asked question about its flying techniques. A video posted on its Facebook page aims to explain why the helicopter lifts off…

180 ‘Brown Tags’ to Be Issued for Salmon Anglers on Cork’s Lower River Lee for 2023
10th January 2023 Angling
To boost conservation efforts, anglers who wish to catch and keep wild salmon from Cork’s Lower River Lee in Cork in 2023 are advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland that ‘brown tag’ regulations are coming into force from Wednesday 1 February.…

Marine Minister Meets Fishing Industry to Discuss EU/Norway Negotiations and Fleet Scrappage Scheme
10th January 2023 Fishing
Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue on Tuesday (10 January) today met fishing industry representatives at the Marine Institute in Galway and discussed the negotiations ongoing this week, between the EU and Norway, on a fisheries agreement. The minister said: “Our interests…

The umbrella organisation for the UK’s maritime sector, Martime UK has appointed Robin Mortimer as its new chair and Tom Boardley as vice chair. Robin was nominated by the British Ports Association and UK Major Ports Group whilst Tom was…

The World ARC 2023-24 fleet set off from Saint Lucia at 12 noon on Saturday, January 7, beginning their adventure of a lifetime following years of dreaming, thinking, planning and preparations. 19 yachts took the start from the 23-strong fleet…

The Spring series of the HYC Dinghy Frostbites kicked off on Sunday, 8th January, after a brief hiatus since the Winter series wrapped up before Christmas. A New Year’s Day Race had bridged the gap for some of the competitors,…

Tributes Paid to Marcio ‘Mad Dog’ Freire After Big Wave Surfer’s Death at Nazaré
9th January 2023 Surfing
The surfing world has paid tribute to Brazilian big wave surfer Marcio Freire after his death at Nazaré last Thursday (5 January). According to RTÉ News, Freire fell into the water while surfing at the Portuguese swell regarded as producing…

Courtmacsherry RNLI's New Shannon Class Lifeboat Arrives This Sunday (Jan 15th)
9th January 2023 RNLI Lifeboats
The West Cork community of Courtmacsherry are set to welcome the latest RNLI lifeboat to be based in Ireland to their village next Sunday, 15th January. This Shannon class lifeboat is unique in the RNLI's fleet as it has been…

National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) to Host Seafarers' Conference 2023
9th January 2023 Ports & Shipping
The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) has announced the launch of its second annual Seafarers' Conference which is take place on 23 February and be held in Co. Limerick. This year's theme is 'Thriving Fishing, Thriving Offshore Wind, Thriving Ports'…

Alexandre Kowalski (AlexK – RS) of France swept to victory in the 2022 eSailing World Championship Final in front of a live crowd at the Ocean Live Park in Alicante, Spain, to take home the title and a cash prize…

Glandore Harbour Yacht Club members, at their annual general meeting, gave their award for Exceptional Service to Orla Sheehan. Re-elected as Commodore of the West Cork club Tim Forde, said the club was “blessed with the great number of dedicated volunteers”…

Strike Action Continues By Rathlin Island Ferry Workers With Further Disruption this Month
9th January 2023 Ferry
Ferry workers on the service to Rathlin Island, some six miles of the Antrim coast are to continue strike action this month over a dispute on pay and conditions. At the weekend, the Unite the Union announced industrial action would…

Challenging Conditions for the Viking Marine DMYC Dinghy Frostbite Fleet at Dun Laoghaire Harbour
9th January 2023 DMYC
The weather forecasts during the week leading up to Round two of the post-Christmas DMYC Frostbites in Dun Laoghaire, sponsored by Viking Marine, might have led one to believe that racing would not be possible. Indeed, on Thursday and Friday,…

Crew Crisis May See Naval Service Begin Searching Overseas for Skilled Sailors
9th January 2023 Navy
To address the persistent crew crisis in the Naval Service, the Defence Forces is considering attempting to recruit sailors from outside the country. The Naval Service which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year, is almost 300 below its establishment strength…