Jehan Ashmore
Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.
Unitised Traffic on Island of Ireland Remained Stable Q1, 2026 - IMDO
11th June 2026 Ports & Shipping
In the first quarter of 2026, unitised traffic on the island of Ireland remained stable, according to the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO). The data is from the IMDO’s Unitised Traffic Report for Q1 2026 with a summary as outlined…
In what will be a most welcome boost in connectivity from Munster to mainland Europe is a new mixed passenger/freight ferry service between Cork Harbour and northern France. As previously reported, operator Hibernia Line is to launch the direct continental…
ESPO Calls for Pragmatic Implementation of Entry/Exit System ahead of Peak Summer
10th June 2026 Ferry
Ahead of the summer peak season, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) remains concerned about the potential impact that the full deployment of the Entry/Exit System (EES) may have on traffic fluidity at ferry ports. The congestion experienced at the…
The Port of Cork was where a newbuild’s maiden call took place, and it also marked a step forward in the sustainable evolution of the maritime industry. The vehicle carrier Grande Michigan, which was delivered to the Grimaldi Group, is…
Four Years After P&O Ferries Scandal UK Government Proposes New Worker Protections
7th June 2026 Ferry
Under new UK government proposals - fairer pay, proper rest periods, and stronger rights and protections under law are being promised for ferry seafarers. The proposed new ferry worker laws would give guaranteed minimum rest periods and fair pay for…
Columbus's Stunning Replica Santa María to Visit West Cork With Public Tours
8th June 2026 Maritime Festivals
The ports and harbours of the Cork coastline have always enjoyed a varied set of visiting vessels, ranging from those massive cruise ships to the exclusive superyachts dropping anchor. However, the scene down in West Cork is where locals and…
The interiors of the new locally built Mersey Ferry, Royal Daffodil, show glimpses of a sophisticated, contemporary lounge on the main deck near the attractive cruiser stern. The design of the lounge forms a versatile function space available for private…
New Isles of Scilly Freight Ferry Arrives in France Before Completing Delivery Voyage
5th June 2026 Ferry
The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group’s new 45m freight ferry, Menawethan, has arrived at Concarneau, in France, for the final stop on its delivery voyage to the UK. The newbuild was welcomed in Brittany by Marine Superintendent Tom Weise and…
Irish Lights to Mark RTÉ 100th with Special 'Solstice' Lighthouse Broadcasts
5th June 2026 Lighthouses
Irish Lights, the maritime and navigation services organisation, is to partner with RTÉ Radio 1 for a unique series of live broadcasts celebrating RTÉ’s centenary and the enduring power of late-night radio. For generations, radio has been intertwined with the…
Boluda Towage has won "Innovation Company of the Year 2026" at the International Tug & Salvage Community—ITS Awards, which recently took place in the Swedish port city of Gothenburg. The award recognizes the rollout of the company’s Total Energy Optimization…
A captain of a Royal Navy ‘Hunt’-class mine countermeasure vessel, which had visited the Isle of Man this week, told Manx Radio his crew was delighted to witness the TT. During its visit to the Isle of Man, HMS Middleton…
A new state-of-the-art pilot vessel for the Port of Milford Haven, South Wales, has reached a major milestone with the official naming ceremony of the craft. The newbuild named Llanion reinforces the energy port’s continued commitment to safe, efficient, and…
This summer, thousands of ferry passengers heading across the Irish Sea have received travel updates from the Port of Holyhead. The North Wales port off Anglesey has been operating off a single terminal since December last year after the other…
Foyle Port has congratulated the students from Ardnashee School & College on successfully completing a work experience programme with the north-west port. The pilot programme named the SuperGEMS Work Experience Programme was developed in partnership with GEMX North West to…
Isle of Man Steam Packet Warns Motorists Will be Turned Away if Vehicle is Too Big
30th May 2026 Ferry
Motorists travelling with the Isle of Man Steam Packet have been urged to ensure they are giving accurate details with their vehicle dimensions. The Steam Packet has said several passengers have had to be turned away from the high-speed craft…
Cameron Bowie Appointed As New Chief Operating Officer of CLdN Shipping
29th May 2026 Ports & Shipping
CLdN, which has recently relocated shipping operations from mainland Europe to the UK, as Afloat reported, has announced the appointment of Cameron Bowie as the new Chief Operating Officer for CLdN Shipping. Next month, Cameron will join CLdN from the…
European short-sea ro-ro and lo-lo operator CLdN has completed its move of shipping operations from Luxembourg to the United Kingdom. The move to the UK is a natural evolution for CLdN, as the company has been operating freight connections to…
Two seasonal vehicle ferry services linking the Inishowen Peninsula will return to service, Donegal County Council has announced as the summer gets underway. The Swilly Ferry service, linking Buncrana and Rathmullan, and the cross-border Lough Foyle Ferry service, between Magilligan…
Finally, a Stena Line-owned ferry has resumed operations at Fishguard Harbour on Saturday evening after a months-long absence linking Rosslare. The route’s routine ro-pax Stena Nordica set sail for the Irish port at 1.30am on Sunday morning, marking its official…
The cross-border seasonal car ferry service across Carlingford Lough that links counties Louth and Down will not operate in 2026. Frazer Ferries, the Limerick-based operator, posted a notice on their Carlingford Lough ferry website stating that the service will not…
