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.

Bosses at a Scottish shipyard fear the £250m pair of ferries won't see (CalMac) service amidst spiralling series of serious faults.

Bosses at Scottish Shipyard fear £250m Ferries Will Never be Used Amidst Spiralling Series of Serious Faults

18th May 2022 Shipyards

A catalogue of spiralling faults with two vessels is at the centre of Scotland’s ferry fiasco under the stewardship of minister-controlled Ferguson Marine has prompted serious shipyard concerns over whether they will ever see service. A damning March internal analysis…

Dundalk Port which may change back to local ownership

Co. Louth Port Set to Return to Local Ownership

18th May 2022 Irish Ports

Dundalk Port could come back under local ownership, after Louth County Council confirmed it hopes to be ready to begin the transfer process before the end of the year. The port has been under the auspices of Dublin Port since 2011,…

Flagship LÉ Eithne: Although completely refurbished in 2017, LÉ Eithne has been laid up since mid-2019. However, the flagship LÉ Eithne was briefly brought back into service in 2020 to provide support to the HSE’s Covid-19 operations. Above LÉ Eithne in Dun Laoghaire, is the last naval vessel (AFLOAT adds of any ship) built in Ireland at VCD, Cork, and is seen at the East coast harbour which is the vessel's adopted homeport from where the Naval Service represented by the flagship, was in 2017 bestowed the ‘Freedom of Entry to the County’ by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. The Award in recognition of humanitarian service on behalf of the people of Ireland and EU acknowledged the duties undertaken by the Navy as part of Operation Pontus in the Mediterranean Sea to rescue refugee migrants.

LÉ Eithne: Plea to Convert Flagship into Cork Naval Museum, Rather than Selling Patrol Vessel for Scrap

18th May 2022 Navy

In a last-ditch effort a campaign is underway to see the Naval Service flagship converted into a maritime museum, rather than sold for scrap. Cork County Council is writing to the Minister for Defence and the secretary-general of the Department…

Merchant Navy Cadets of Trinity House to join the crew of the prestigious polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough (as above in Antarctica). As AFLOAT previously reported the vessel built by Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird, carried out sea-trails off Northern Ireland last year and beforehand off Wales from where in Holyhead was used as a base for crew training.

Merchant Navy Cadets from Trinity House Join Prestigious Polar Research Vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough

17th May 2022 Marine Science

Merchant Navy Cadets of Trinity House will now be training with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) on board their new state-of-the-art polar science research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough (see, sea-trails story of last year) The four merchant cadets will…

Cameron Mitchell director of the Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) which is expanding its Greek fleet with an agreement to flag four bulk carriers, involving three of 33,044 tonnes and a larger bulker of 51,195-tonnes.

Expansion of Isle of Man Ship Registry Sees Greek Fleet of Bulk-Carriers Join Registry

17th May 2022 Isle of Man

An expansion of the Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) through its Greek fleet, follows an agreement to flag four bulk carriers with Enterprises Shipping & Trading (EST). EST is IOMSR’s oldest and largest Greek client, and the latest additions…

Operator DFDS announced the introduction of a new rail freight service from Calais to Séte, the French port on the Mediterranean that has ferry services connecting Yalova, Turkey. The new service which starts today, will shorten transport time between London and Istanbul. Another DFDS freight service is the Rosslare-Dunkirk route which AFLOAT adds last week saw the return of Optima Seaways, which launched the 'Brexit' by-pass freight hauliers route in January, 2021. The 'Optima' sees DFDS increase to 3 ships and 6 round sailings weekly between Ireland and France, boosting capacity on the direct route to mainland Europe.

DFDS Introduce New Rail Freight Service from Calais to Séte on Mediterranean Sea to Link Turkey

17th May 2022 Ferry

DFDS the operator of the Rosslare Europort-Dunkirk freight ferry route, has announced that they are introducing a new rail freight service from Calais to Séte which starts today. The new rail service connects London with Yalova in Turkey, will shorten transport…

The growth driven by increases in exports of medical and pharmaceutical products according to CSO figures. A containership Afloat adds with tugs assisting, departs the Port of Cork when underway off Haulbowline and bound for the USA.

Goods Exported Exceeded €20bn for the First Time in March

16th May 2022 Ports & Shipping

Unadjusted exports of goods from Ireland, exceeded €20 billion in a month for the first time in March, driven mainly by growth in the exports of medical and pharmaceutical products, as well as organic chemicals, new data from the Central…

P&O Ferries: The decision has led to fury from trade unions and politicians.

Dutch Crew at P&O Ferries Given 5% Pay Rise after Sacking Nearly 800 UK Workers

16th May 2022 Ferry

At disgraced ferry company P&O, bosses have given overseas workers a pay rise despite sacking nearly 800 UK staff in March after 'claiming poverty'. As Hull Live reports, more than 100 staff members in the Netherlands will get a 5%…

The Northern Lighthouse Board has been named as a finalist in the Working Families Best Practice Awards. The NLB which is the General Lighthouse Authority for Scotland, is also responsible for the waters surrounding the Isle of Man.

Northern Lighthouse Board Is Announced as Finalist in 'Working Families Best Practice Awards'

16th May 2022 Lighthouses

The Northern Lighthouse Board which is responsible for the waters surrounding Scotland and the Isle of Man, has been named as a finalist in the Working Families Best Practice Awards. The NLB has been shortlisted in the category Best for Mental Health…

Provisional bookings for sailings to the 2023 TT will open next week, Monday, 23rd May.

Ferry Bookings Set to Open for Sailings to 2023 Isle of Man TT

16th May 2022 Ferry

Ferry operator, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has confirmed that provisional bookings for sailings to the 2023 TT will open next week, on Monday, 23rd May. Provisional bookings, which are held with a deposit, are priced at £40…

An order for two 7,999 mts dwt efficient coastal tankers has been placed by Thun Tankers, whose dark green hulled ships are frequent callers in Irish ports. Among them, Afloat highlights Dublin Port where almost daily arrivals of Thun Tankers discharge petroleum products that were loaded at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire in south Wales.

Frequent Irish Ports Caller Thun Tankers Order Resource Efficient Coastal Tankers

12th May 2022 Ports & Shipping

Frequent Irish ports caller, Thun Tankers whose fleet continues to expand as the Scandinavian shipping company haved place an order for a pair of 7,999 mts dwt tankers. Thun Tankers is part of the Erik Thun Group, a company owned by…

The rules have been eased to allow a multi-site freeport and governments will work together on choosing the location/s. Above freight check-in booths of operators Irish Ferries and Stena Line.

Freeport for Wales to Get £26m to Set Up As Deal Confirmed by Welsh and UK Governments

12th May 2022 Ports & Shipping

Accross the Irish Sea, the Welsh Government has reached an agreement with the UK Government on the establishment of Freeports in Wales with £26m in starter funding secured. As North Wales Live revealed (earlier) this morning, the deal had been…

Harland & Wolff are delighted to appoint The Seafarers's Charity as their 2021/22 partner.

Launch of Partnership Between Harland & Wolff and The Seafarers' Charity

12th May 2022 Shipyards

The iconic Belfast shipyard and multisite fabrication company of Harland & Wolff with over 160 years of maritime and offshore engineering pedigree has appointed The Seafarers’ Charity as its 2021/22 partner. This partnership will see Harland & Wolff join forces with one…

ICG sees increase in revenue with lifting of restrictions but higher costs bite. Total revenues across the group’s ferries division amounted to €98 million, up 165 per cent on the prior year. Above Afloat adds is the high-speed craft HSC Dublin Swift serving the Holyhead route.

Ferry Operator Forced to Raise Prices in Wake of Surging Fuel Costs

12th May 2022 Irish Ferries

The owner of Irish Ferries, the Irish Continental Group said it has been forced to pass on increased costs to consumers in the form of higher prices. In a trading update (see also) the ferry operator reported an 80 per…

Arklow Coast Completes Commercial Maiden Voyage from 'Sluice' Port Via the Scheldt to Spain

11th May 2022 Ports & Shipping

Arklow Coast of 2,999 gross tonnage, is a brand new C-class coaster which began a commercial maiden voyage from the Netherlands that was completed in Spain at the weekend, writes Jehan Ashmore. The newbuild is the 8th so far in…

ICG said revenue up to the end of April this year came in at €161.2 million - an increase of 80.5% on last year, but it was also up over 57% on 2019 levels.

Revenue Increases Sharply At Ferry Group ICG

11th May 2022 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries parent company the Irish Continental Group has reported an increase in revenue for the first four months of the year. In a trading statement, the group provides comparisons to the same period last year as well as to…

The new proposed UK legislation will ban ferries that don’t pay their workers the equivalent to minimum wage from docking at the nation's ports. The development announced today from the Dept. of Transport (see link below) on the consultation process of the proposed legislation.

Seafarers' UK National Minimum Wage Laws Set Sail

10th May 2022 Ferry

Seafarers numbering in tens of thousands must be paid an equivalent to the UK National Minimum Wage in a major step forward on pay protection, confirmed the British Government today (10 May). Following P&O Ferries’ decision to sack 800 workers,…

Ship-wreck in the Thames Estuary, which holds 1,400 tonnes of explosives which could detonate.

Thames Estuary: Masts to be Axed In Safety Bid from Explosive-Filled Shipwreck

10th May 2022 Historic Boats

On the Thames Estuary and hidden below the waves, reports BBC News, is one of London's most unlikely tourist destinations. We've travelled about 30 minutes, along with a handful of day trippers from Southend, into the estuary. Slowly, a set…

P&O's Pride of Kent has been cleared to resume sailing on the Dover to Calais route following safety inspectors carried out by the MCA.

Second P&O Dover-Calais Ferry Cleared to Resume Sailing by Safety Inspectors

10th May 2022 Ferry

At the Port of Dover a second P&O ferry has passed its safety inspection, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has said. The Pride of Kent can now join the Spirit of Britain, which the MCA cleared to sail on…

The winner of the ESPO Award for 2021 was the Polish Port of Gdańsk Authority.

Are You the 'Passenger' Port taking the ESPO Award 2022 Home? Submit Your Project Before 8 July

9th May 2022 Ports & Shipping

This year's European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Social Integration of Ports focuses on the “Role of maritime passenger transport in enhancing the city connectivity and bringing added value to the local community”. Are you an ESPO (observer) member…