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.

For more than three decades, the Barfleur, following its predecessors, has been sailing between Cherbourg and Poole, Dorset, where Poole Town and BCP councillor Marcus Andrews said the announcement was a

Brittany Ferries Second English Channel Route to End Early with Ropax Relocating to Rosslare

1st October 2026 Brittany Ferries

A Brittany Ferries English Channel route linking Normandy is to be shut down earlier than planned following a technical problem with a ropax, reports BBC News. The final sailing of the 1992-built Barfleur between Poole and Cherbourg was scheduled for…

The main Irish ports handled 13.6 million tonnes of goods during Quarter 2, 2026, according to the latest CSO figures, which showed a decrease of 1% compared with Q2 2025.

Irish Ports Handled 13.6m tonnes in Quarter 2, 2026 - Drop of 1% of Q2 Last Year

1st October 2026 Irish Ports

Irish Ports handled 13.6 million tonnes of goods in Quarter 2 (Q2) 2026, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) latest Statistics of Port Traffic results. Commenting on the published data released today, Damien Lenihan, Statistician in the Transport Division,…

Scotland’s nationally owned ferry operator, CalMac, has hired a ship broker to help sell surplus older vessels as its fleet-replacement programme will render them redundant. Among them the Isle of Arran, called after its namesake island, forms a dramatic backdrop on the Firth of Clyde, south-west Scotland. The 1984-built ferry served Arran dubbed the ‘Scotland in Miniature’, though it also launched a short-lived seasonal Ardrossan-Campbeltown, Mull of Kintyre route.

CalMac’s ‘Surplus’ Old Ferries to be Sold off by London-Based Broker in £200k Deal

1st October 2026 Ferry

The Government of Scotland-owned ferry operator has hired a ship broker to assist in selling veteran vessels that its fleet-replacement programme will render surplus to requirements. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has appointed a London-based shipbroker, H. Clarkson and Co…

Following a freedom of information (FoI) request, documents revealed that the Isle of Man (IOM) Ship Registry only became aware of the delay in the flagship Manxman’s return through Manx Radio, which was reported to take place in November.

Isle of Man Ship Registry found Out Flagship's Manxman Delay from Media

1st October 2026 Ferry

The Isle of Man government has criticised the Isle of Man Steam Packet (IOMSPCo) over its handling of communications during the flagship ferry Manxman's dry-docking disruption. Following a freedom of information (FoI) request, documents showed that the Isle of Man…

Animal welfare activists claim unweaned calves transported from Ireland to France can go without food over 24 hours, a breach of EU law. Currently, Irish Ferries is the only company facilitating the export of live animals from Ireland to mainland Europe, on the Dublin-Cherbourg route, served by cruise ferry W.B. Yeats (as above bound for France, with livestock double-deck truck trailers) and the freight-orientated (ropax) Isle of Inisheer.

Irish Ferries Served Legal Notice Over Calf Welfare

30th September 2026 Irish Ferries

A number of animal welfare groups have issued Irish Ferries, the operator of the Dublin to Cherbourg, France, route, with a legal notice. The groups allege breaches of animal welfare legislation in the transportation of unweaned calves from Ireland to…

Not so fast: Replacement for Manannan as a freedom of information (FoI) request shows documents of a £30m down payment due this year, which forms part of the IOM Steam Packet fleet renewal strategy noted by Manx Council of Ministers earlier this year and agreed to by the Treasury.

Replacement for Isle of Man Fast Ferry will Be ‘Slower’ and of Conventional Design

30th September 2026 Ferry

The Isle of Man Steam Packet's high-speed craft (HSC) ferry Manannan, which is to be replaced in a plan to modernise such operations, will not be faster, as it is likely to add an extra 45 minutes on the Douglas-Liverpool…

The Red Rebel: Irish Mainport’s 50-m length overall (LOA) survey and research ship, built in 2015, is currently on a project off the Eastern Canadian Arctic.

Irish Mainport Survey Research Ship on Project within the Eastern Canadian Arctic

30th September 2026 Marine Science

Cork-based Irish Mainport Holdings research vessel Mainport Geo, in recent weeks, arrived in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, from where it set off to embark on a project survey of approximately 60 days, writes Jehan Ashmore. The former offshore supply vessel (OPV)…

Naming ceremony: Mersey Ferries new Royal Daffodil officially welcomed its first members of the public for the ferry’s maiden sailing, where lucky ballot winners to special guests, with live entertainment enjoyed an inaugural public cruise to celebrate this new chapter. The Royal Daffodil will require final preparations ahead of entering service in early autumn, when residents and visitors will avail of modern facilities and view Liverpool’s iconic waterfront.

Mersey Ferries New £26m Royal Daffodil Makes Maiden River Excursion

30th September 2026 Ferry

It was a proud moment in the 800-year history of the famous Mersey ferry, which celebrated the new £26 million Royal Daffodil, which set out on its maiden sailing following a special naming ceremony held recently, reports UKInbound. Liverpool City…

The Isle of Man minister has clarified comments over who is footing the bill to repair the flagship ferry the Manxman, which primarily serves the island’s most important year-round route.

Manx Minister Says Taxpayers Aren't Directly Paying for Flagship Repairs

29th September 2026 Ferry

The Treasury Minister Chris Thomas said that Manx taxpayers are not handing the Isle of Man Steam Packet £2.5 million to fix technical problems with the flagship Manxman. In 2023, the newbuild ferry entered service on the Douglas-Heysham route, the…

Two Irish ports, Cork and Dublin, have been shortlisted in addition to those in Iceland and Spain for the Winner of the ESPO Award 2026. Last year’s winner went to a UK entrant, Shoreham Port, as above.

Irish Ports Among Shortlist for European Sea Port Organisation (ESPO) Award 2026

29th September 2026 Ports & Shipping

Two Irish ports are among those that have been shortlisted for the 18th European Sea Port Organisation (ESPO) Award on Societal Integration of Ports. They are in (alphabetical order) the Port of Cork, Dublin Port Company, along with the Icelandic…

The Swedish barque T/S Gunilla, whose young trainees are currently on a visit to the port city on the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. The busy French port is synonymous with ferries plying the English Channel (Le Manche) and its links to Ireland. In addition, it has a cruise terminal, a large marina, wind-energy component industries, naval shipyards, and a major naval base.

Swedish Tallship’s Cherbourg Call Recalls Stena Line's Former Irish Link & New Port Challenges

29th September 2026 News Update

The trainee tall ship Gunilla, the largest visitor at the recent inaugural Dublin City Council Liffey Festival, departed the capital more than a week ago to arrive at Cherbourg, France, where the ferryport faces new challenges, writes Jehan Ashmore. Recently,…

The Isle of Man Steam Packet’s flagship ferry, Manxman, which entered service only in 2023, remains out of service for repair work carried out at Balaena Birkenhead (formerly Cammell Laird) on Merseyside. According to Manx Government papers, the deterioration of the flagship was greater than would normally be expected for a vessel of Manxman’s age and prompted further investigations into possible causes. Its absence since July has also impacted its roster on the new Douglas-Larne year-round operated route.

Isle of Man Ministers Raise Doubts about 'Long-Term Suitability' of Flagship Manxman

27th September 2026 Ferry

Isle of Man government ministers have sought assurances over the long-term reliability of the flagship Manxman after major propulsion system defects left the ferry facing months out of service. Following a Freedom of Information request from Manx Radio, internal correspondence…

The move by Brittany Ferries to end the English Channel route took place with plans by the French company to expand capacity on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route. Above: Commodore Clipper, on temporary duty at the Irish port (this date a year ago, 27 Sept), continues in Condor livery despite a takeover by the Breton company in 2024. Its last Portsmouth-Le Havre sailing was 11 days ago, where at the French port the ropax has technical issues, which AFLOAT also confirms along with relocating from the ferry terminal to a nearby basin. The troubled ropax may force the continued use of the larger (to be sold) ropax Cotentin, beyond its final scheduled sailing from Rosslare on 4 October, with Ireland-France sailings also served by existing E-Flexers.

Brittany Ferries Ends English Channel Route Earlier than Planned with Ropax to Return to Rosslare

27th September 2026 Brittany Ferries

Brittany Ferries has closed one of its English Channel routes earlier than expected this month due to a technical issue with one of its ropax vessels. The Portsmouth-Le Havre route was initially set to end at the start of next…

At Greenore Port an advanced camera system for its cranes has been installed aimed at improving health and safety across cargo handling operations.

Greenore Port Sees Cranes Improved with New Safety Camera System

27th September 2026 Irish Ports

Greenore Port in Co. Louth has implemented an advanced camera system to improve safety for its crane operations. The only privately owned commercial Irish port, with its Liebherr Harbour Mobile Cranes (LHMs), now has a new health and safety system across…

Stena Line has confirmed a major fleet investment for Sweden-Denmark service, with the order of two new E‑Flexer 2.0 RoPax ferries, each designed to carry 1,500 passengers and 2,750 lane metres of freight. Afloat adds the newbuilds feature ‘lattice’ windows, which resembled those of the company’s pioneering High-Speed Sea Service (HSS) craft, with the first serving Dun Looghaire-Holyhead, where the Irish port now uses Dublin. The Irish capital is where the first E-Flexer entered service to Wales, and since 2019, so far 15 of the series built, including those chartered and sold to other ferry firms among them, Brittany Ferries.

Stena Line Orders New E-Flexer Hybrids for Scandinavian Route of Sweden-Denmark

27th September 2026 Stena Line

Stena Line is to order newbuilds for its local Scandinavian fleet, with two new hybrid E-Flexer ferries scheduled to enter Sweden-Denmark service in 2030. The Swedish-based ferry company in Gothenburg is from where the two new E-Flexers are to link…

Public Vote: Help name Scotland’s new Northern Isles ferries to the Shetlands by choosing the names of two new ‘freight-flex’ vessels being built for the Aberdeen to Kirkwall and Lerwick routes. The 140m vessels will replace Helliar and Hildasay on the Serco NorthLink Ferries service to provide more freight capacity, quicker crossings, and flexibility to carry up to 200 passengers at peak times and strengthen vital links between mainland Scotland and the isles.

Invitation to Public to Vote on Names for New Shetland Isles Freight Vessels

22nd September 2026 Ferry

The public has been invited to help name the two new 'freight-flex' ferries being built for Scotland’s Shetland Islands, which will serve the Aberdeen to Kirkwall/Lerwick route, operated by Serco NorthLink Ferries. The new vessels will provide the company that…

Europa Point: Trinity House is to open the iconic headland lighthouse at Gibraltar, at its southernmost extremity, for guided public tours. The lighthouse sticks out into the Strait of Gibraltar and is the best place to look across to the African continent. On a clear day the port of Ceuta (Afloat highlights, the Spanish enclave in recent weeks made headline news as a major migrant influx crisis took place) and the neighbouring state of Morocco can be seen at the mouth of the Mediterranean. The Trinity Lighthouse dominates the coastal view with the Ibrahim al-Ibrahim Mosque to the north and the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe to the west.

Trinity House Opens Europa Point Lighthouse Gibraltar to Visitors

22nd September 2026 Lighthouses

Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) responsible for waters off England, Wales, the Channel Islands, and Gibraltar, has partnered with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust to open Europa Point Lighthouse to the public. Further to the six lighthouses that Trinity House opens…

CalMac has welcomed 16 young people for the Modern Apprentices programme, from across Scotland's western coastal communities, as they begin their careers with the company, which operates along the long, rugged coast, stretching from Arran in the Firth of Clyde to Lewis in the Outer Hebrides

New Apprentices at CalMac Welcomed for a Career at Sea

19th September 2026 Jobs

The start of the next generation of CalMac seafarers has been embarked on their maritime careers after landing a berth on the Scottish domestic ferry operator's Modern Apprenticeship scheme. A total of sixteen young people from Scotland's west coast communities…

Danish ferry firm, DFDS, had been lined up as an operator for the planned Rosyth-Dunkirk route, which was to revive a Scotland-mainland-Europe (France) link, not since services ceased in 2018. Currently DFDS serves Dunkirk/Dunkerque, in northern France, to Rosslare Europort (as above with their Athena Seaways), competing with the new Irish company, Hibernia Line, but from Boulogne to Cork, where both routes involve a passage of the English Channel to mainland Europe.

Europe Link: Plans for Scotland-France Route of Rosyth-Dunkirk Abandoned

19th September 2026 Ferry

On the North Sea is where a long-awaited return of a ferry service linking Scotland and mainland Europe is now dead in the water after a port group pulled out of plans to revive the direct route to the continent.…

Beachcober Prohect: Afloat adds the former Costa Fortuna, built in 2003 with 1,358 cabins, is to become the new flagship of US operator Margaritaville at Sea when it enters Harland & Wolff, Belfast, where Navantia UK has secured a major £40m revitalisation project to transform the 102,669gt first of the Fortuna-class cruise ships.

Belfast Secures £40m ‘Beachcomber’ Cruise Ship Revitalisation Project

18th September 2026 Shipyards

The shipyard of Harland & Wolff, Belfast, has secured its largest cruise ship revitalisation project since becoming part of Navantia UK. The project will see US-based operator Margaritaville at Sea's new flagship, Beachcomber, call to Belfast, following the successfull refurbishment of…