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.

The largest tallship to visit the festival this weekend (12-13 Sept) is the Swedish-flagged three-masted barquentine Gunilla, built in 1940. The 86-year-old veteran, with up to 44 young trainees and 11 crew, is to grace its presence at Sir John Rogersons Quay, on the south side of the Liffey within the Docklands Quarter. Afloat ads during the 1950s; it served as a ferry and is now operated by Öckerö Rederi AB on the island's nameake near Göteborg, but is unrelated to the homeport of Swedish ferry giant, Stena Line, whose origins date to 1946 with its first vessel, and by the 1960s a ferry service started between Göteborg and Skagen in Denmark.

Remaining Visiting Tall Ships 'Identified' in Advance of Dublin City Council Liffey Festival

9th September 2026 Tall Ships

Three tallships so far have yet to be officially announced, in attending the inaugural Dublin River Festival, which takes place this weekend, writes Jehan Ashmore. To date, the same number of visiting vessels, formed by two tall ships from overseas and…

Among the attending visiting tall ships, the Pelican of London will be open to free public tours during this weekend’s two-day festival (12-13 September) between 12 noon and 6pm. So far, all vessels will be open on both days when berthed at Sir John Rogersons Quay, on the south side of the Liffey within the Docklands Quarter.

Inaugural Dublin City Council Liffey Festival Sees Visiting Tall Ships this Weekend (12 -13 Sept)

9th September 2026 Tall Ships

As Afloat reported, the Dublin City Council Liffey Festival, which explores the river and its quays with fun-filled activities, is to take place this weekend (12-13 September) along the Docklands quarter. So come along to the inaugural festival’s fantastic programme…

The Isle of Man Steam Packet's 'sincere apology' to customers—as repair work continues on its flagship, Manxman, which was scheduled to resume service this month but has been delayed and won’t return until November.

Isle of Man Flagship Ferry Delayed - Won't be Back until November

9th September 2026 Ferry

The Isle of Man Steam Packet has confirmed that an extra two months could be required to enable repairs to the flagship ferry’s two propulsion shafts. The busy Manxman was taken out of service in late July after issues were…

According to the IMDO’s latest Unitised traffic report for Q2, 2026, the island of Ireland recorded a growth of 3% during the second quarter of 2026. RoRo volumes in the Republic of Ireland, increased by 5% year-on-year, while as for LoLo traffic continued its upward trajectory. Above LoLo and RoRo operations at Ringaskiddy, Cork, including CLdN’s freight ferry Victorine.

Unitised Traffic Report Sees Growth of 3% for Q2, 2026 - IMDO Reports

8th September 2026 Irish Ports

The latest Unitised Traffic Report for Q2 2026, published by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), details the key points of its findings and is detailed below. Unitised traffic throughout ports on the island of Ireland recorded growth of 3%…

The Manx government-funded terminal, at Liverpool’s Prince's Half-Tide Dock, which serves Douglas, is run by the Steam Packet’s seasonal (fast ferry April to October service) and flagship at weekends in winter. Afloat also adds the fast ferry Manannan, which also links Larne, launched earlier this year as a year-round route, has also been maintained by conventional tonnage.

Manx Info Commissioner Partially Upholds Complaint Over Liverpool Terminal

7th September 2026 Ferry

The Manx Information Commissioner has partly upheld a complaint relating to a freedom of information (FoI) request about the Liverpool Ferry Terminal, used exclusively by the Isle of Man Steam Packet. A request for an FoI was made for a…

Popular demand: As the Rosslare-Fishguard Routes 120th Anniversary ‘extended’ exhibition, has attracted and welcomed more than 1,000 visitors since it launched less than a fortnight ago. It continues this weekend (5 and 6 Sept) from 2pm and 5pm at the Rosslare Europort ferry terminal in southeast Wexford. Among the above exhibits is an original ship's wheel of Stena Europe, while in the window the current ferry Stena Nordica from Wales heads towards the Irish port.

Rosslare-Fishguard 120th Exhibition Exceeds Expectations With Weekend Open to Visitors

4th September 2026 Rosslare Europort

Within less than two weeks since a launch of the Rosslare-Fishguard routes' 120th anniversary exhibition was 'extended', it has further exceeded expectations, as more than 1,000 visitors have admired attending, writes Jehan Ashmore. Its organisers, the Rosslare Harbour Maritime Heritage Centre…

A traditional keel-laying ceremony involving a commemorative coin was placed beneath the laid section of RFA Resurgent, the first-in-class of three, Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), took place at Navantia UK’s Appledore shipyard, Devon, England. The milestone also marks a significant moment in the regeneration of the yard, which is undertaking shipbuilding activity since the completion as Afloat also highlighted over the years of the Irish Naval Service last offshore patrol vessel (OPV) LÉ George Bernard Shaw commissioned in 2018.

First Keel Laid of Fleet Solid Support (FSS) Ships for RFA as Assembly Begins at Appledore

5th September 2026 Shipyards

Harland & Wolff, Belfast, whose owner Navantia UK also has shipyards across the Irish Sea, has laid the keel of RFA Resurgent at its Appledore shipyard in North Devon, England. The event, which took place on UK Merchant Day, also…

This week, Brittany Ferries closed its trade in live animal exports from Rosslare Europort to Cherbourg, following a campaign by Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), both domestic and overseas, to end the service and ensure animal welfare legislation is effectively enforced. Above: at Rosslare, before the trade stopped, ro-pax Cotentin is to be withdrawn from service and put up for sale, however, the Ireland-France connection is to continue by E-Flexer cruise ferries. As for the reflection in the Wexford terminal building, it is that of the Fishguard ropax Stena Nordica.

Export by Brittany Ferries of Live Irish Calf Ends Leaves One Operator Serving France

5th September 2026 Brittany Ferries

Brittany Ferries at the start of September ceased trading in the transportation of live farm animals, including unweaned calves exported from Rosslare Europort to Cherbourg. As the Maritime Logistics Professional reports, the move on Tuesday by the Breton-based operator marks another…

The Manx ferry operator, says work is happening 'behind the scenes' over the project to replace the 1998-built fast-ferry Manannan, as seen above at Larne, Co. Antrim, and in April a new year-round route to Douglas was launched. Afloat, add today (morning), the North Channel port is occupied by P&O’s European Causeway from Cairnryan and ultra-luxury small cruise ship Hebridean Isles, which arrived from Oban in west Scotland.

Operator Says Manannan Replacement Project Ongoing Despite Claims By Minister Its 'On Pause'

5th September 2026 Ferry

The ferry operator, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPCo), says that the planning and preparatory work for Manannan's replacement is continuing "behind the scenes." That's despite what the IOM Treasury Minister Chris Thomas told Manx Radio's Douglas Central…

Island Adventure, which otherwise serves Inishbofin Island off Cleggan, Connemara, was kept busy for two days, tendering passengers to and from anchored cruise ships off Dun Laoghaire Harbour, is seen arriving along with a tender from the second caller, AidaSol yesterday. Already berthed, St. Bridget, a former Inishbofin and Aran Islands ferry, before taking its present Dublin Bay excursion role, which concludes its seasonal service at the end of September.

Former and Current Inishbofin Ferries Meet in Dun Laoghaire

4th September 2026 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News

Former and current Inishbofin Island serving ferries have met in Dun Laoghaire Harbour this week, and both have been involved in charter roles to tender passengers of cruise ships anchored in Dublin Bay, writes Jehan Ashmore. The St. Bridget of Dublin…

Construction costs continue rising, as Claymore, one of three yet uncompleted newbuilds for CalMac’s west coast services, including Islay, at the Cemre Shipyard, Turkey, is also delayed.

Rising Costs of Around £20m for CalMac’s New Ferries for Islay & West Coast

3rd September 2026 Shipyards

Construction costs for Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) three ferries being built in a shipyard inTurkey, have risen by around £20 million, the Scottish Transport Secretary has said. Stephen Flynn had said ministers have approved the additional project costs to complete the…

Data Breach: P&O Ferries has apologised after customers' personal information was inadvertently shared during a single Strait of Dover sailing, with affected passengers contacted directly. Afloat identified the Dover-Calais ferry as the Spirit of Britain, one of twins purpose-built for the UK-France route, but is now, Oscar Wilde, fully owned by ICG, the parent company of Irish Ferries, which it runs on the Strait of Dover, competing with rival P&O twin, Spirit of France.

Passengers of P&O Ferries Hit by Data Breach During Strait of Dover Sailing

3rd September 2026 Ferry

Ferry passengers on a P&O sailing have been hit by a data breach, as it transpires personal information of customers was shared during a crossing of the Strait of Dover, the operator has said. Commenting on the data breach, P&O…

MAIB Report: The ro-pax Stena Estrid, which serves the Dublin route to Holyhead (above), was holed, having been in collision with the Welsh port’s ferry terminal jetty in January, 2026. During the incident, a port-based tugboat was on hand to safely assist the ferry in berthing at the jetty (which has two adjacent terminal berth linkspans), located in the outer harbour.

Report from MAIB on Holyhead Ferry-Jetty Incident that Holed Hull & Caused Flooding

1st September 2026 Stena Line

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has outlined the events that caused a Stena Line ferry collision with a jetty at the Port of Holyhead, Wales, during a normal berthing maneuver, reports The Maritime Executive. The incident, which took…

Audrey Dolhen, a shipping executive with over 20 years' experience at ZIM and CMA CGM, has been appointed by Peel Ports Group as their Chief Operating Officer, Unitised, where she will join the Executive Board and unite the Group's Irish Sea container and ro-ro operations across Liverpool, Heysham and Dublin.

Peel Ports Group Appoints Audrey Dolhen as Chief Operating Officer for Irish Sea Operations

1st September 2026 Ports & Shipping

The UK’s second-largest port operator, Peel Ports Group, has appointed an international shipping executive, Audrey Dolhen, as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), Unitised. Audrey joins the port operator from ZIM Shipping, where she served as managing director for the…

Afloat today tracked the sold yet unrenamed Stena Nautica to Finland having arrived only earlier in August at the Turku Repair Shipyard opposite of Naantali, the ferryport where the newer and larger Fjärdvägen also serves a link with Åland Islands Långnäs, Lumperland. Afloat will report more of the former Stena ferry chartered to B&I Line as the ‘first’ Isle of Innisfree in the 1990’s.

Finnish Firm Acquires Former Irish Sea Ferry Stena Nautica for Åland Archipelago

1st September 2026 Ferry

Baltic Sea ferry company Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö, based in Mariehamn, the capital of the Åland archipelago, earlier in the summer announced the purchase of the ropax Stena Nautica from its Swedish owner. As Shippax reported in May, the move will strengthen its…

Arklow Shipping, Ireland’s only indigenous 'shipowner,' which has been trading for 60 years, is also to celebrate next week the launch of Arklow Dale, the first of six newbuilds at a Dutch shipyard.

Arklow Shipping Marks 60th Anniversary With New Ship Launch

31st August 2026 Arklow Shipping

Arklow Shipping, which this year marks a maritime milestone of its 60th anniversary, is also to celebrate their latest newbuild which to be launched next week at a shipyard in the Netherlands, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Dale is the first…

The Independent board of Irish Continental Group (ICG) delays a vote on a €1.2bn management buyout (MBO) takeover that had been facing defeat now for more than two weeks. An emergency general meeting (EGM) was scheduled for last Friday, the same day of Afloat's photo of the Isle of Innisfree returning to Rosslare Europort following an overnight passage from Pembroke.

Chairman of ICG Faces Potential Revolt if Now Delayed MBO Takeover Deal Rejected

31st August 2026 Irish Ferries

The long-standing chairman of Irish Continental Group (ICG), John B. McGuckian, could face a challenge from a number of shareholders who have expressed opposition to the proposed €1.2 billion management buyout of the Dublin-listed ferry and maritime transport group. According…

Appealing: Participants at Peel Harbour during the World Championship Viking Longboat Races which took place today.

World Championship Viking Longboat Races at Peel Finally Get Underway

30th August 2026 Isle of Man

On the west coast of the Isle of Man, Peel Harbour’s annual World Championship Viking Longboat Races are getting underway today, Sunday, August 30th. The boat race, which had been rescheduled from originally taking place last month, was due to…

The single arched truss structure of the Ramsey Harbour swing bridge, which has been closed since the start of last month, reopened this week.

Historic Ramsey Harbour Swing Bridge Re-Opens to Vehicle Traffic

30th August 2026 Isle of Man

On the northeast coast of the Isle of Man is where Ramsey Harbour, with its historic road swing bridge, had earlier in the summer closed due to heat and, more recently again, reopened to traffic. The bridge, which opened in…

Historic Day: Today, 120 years ago, the inaugural passenger ferry sailing from Fishguard to Rosslare took place by the G.W.S. turbine steamer S.S. Patrick. To mark the event, a special exhibition to commemorate and celebrate the St. Georges Channel route is currently open free of charge at Rosslare Europort, which began a week ago and, due to popular demand, has been extended. The historic event today will also be marked at the South Wales port, which is twinned with Rosslare Harbour.

Rosslare-Fishguard's 120th Year Exhibition Extended due to Popular Demand

30th August 2026 Rosslare Europort

Since starting with Monday’s official launch of an exhibition to celebrate the Rosslare-Fishguard route's 120th anniversary, more than 700 people have enjoyed visiting the free public event at Rosslare Europort, writes Jehan Ashmore. Following the launch, officially opened by Capt. Sean…