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 First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford is to discuss the potential of the ferry port of Holyhead in Anglesey.

Wales First Minister Agrees to Visit Holyhead Port to Discuss Economic Potential

20th October 2021 Ferry

In north Wales, Rhun ap Iorwerth the Ynys Môn (Anglesey) MS, will meet with Wales’ First Minister, Mark Drakeford, to discuss the investment and support needed to unleash the potential at Holyhead's port. During questions to the First Minister this…

Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second largest port group, calls for the supply-chain to take a rethink by improving logistics in the better use of the nation's port network. The group consists of Liverpool, Heysham, Manchester Ship Canal (above), Medway (Sheerness / Chatham), Clydeport and Great Yarmouth. In addition, to operating the MTL Terminal in Dublin Port and owns BG Freight Line, a provider of short sea container services between the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe and feeder services between UK and Ireland.

UK's Second Largest Ports Group Calls for Supply-Chain Rethink Across Country's Port Network

18th October 2021 Ports & Shipping

In the UK, the second-largest port operator is calling for the supply chain to rethink its approach by making better use of the entire port network across the country. Peel Ports says that it is essential for logistics firms and…

Ports at full capacity across northern Europe. Compared with the US, vessel delays are less severe but are still adding to schedule disruption that reverberates across networks.

Full Capacity At Ports Across Northern Europe

18th October 2021 Ports & Shipping

Anchored containerships are becoming a regular sight in the English Channel as ports across northern Europe remain heavily congested, reports LloydsLoadingList. The numbers are nowhere near as high as in southern California, where overnight data shows that 56 containerships were…

Truck freight volumes fall by a third on Dublin-Holyhead route in nine months. Irish shipping traffic had not been affected, with between 20 and 22 ships continuing to arrive into Dublin Port (as above) every day according to the port's chief executive Eamonn O’Reilly.

Trade Traffic - Brexit Causes Sharp Fall in Irish Lorry Freight on Irish Sea Ferries

18th October 2021 Ferry

As the impact of Brexit continues affecting trade, lorry freight volumes on ferries between Dublin and Holyhead – the busiest Irish Sea route – fell by a third in the first nine months of the year. New industry figures to…

The General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) responsible for the waters off England, Wales & Channel Islands, Trinity House last month secured UK Ministerial approval to launch for the tender process of its Vessel Replacement Project.This will see the disposal of the ageing THV Patricia, dating to 1982 and representing as AFLOAT adds the last of the 'traditional' designed aids to navigation tenders where operations are conducted between the bridge and the bow. Above the handsome well proportioned ship captured by AFLOAT arrives on a rare call in Dun Laoghaire Harbour (East Pier) with in the background Irish Lights tender, ILV Granuaile in Dynamic Positioning (DP) mode while off the port's western bight.

General Lighthouse Authority Trinity House Makes Major Milestone With Ship Replacement Project Approved

15th October 2021 Lighthouses

The General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales and Channel Islands, Trinity House which has a project to commission the design and build of a vessel to replace THV Patricia has reached a major milestone following UK Ministerial approval to…

The UK Royal Navy's HMS Grimsby, a Mine Counter Measures Vessel (MCMV) is making a visit to an Irish Port (Dublin) the first RN vessel to do so since Covid-19 struck more than 18 months ago. The Sandown class minehunter (launched in 2008) with crew of 38 departed from the Firth of Clyde with an overnight crossing through the Irish Sea.

UK Royal Navy Minehunter Makes A Much Overdue Visit

15th October 2021 Naval Visits

HMS Grimsby (M108) became the first UK Royal Navy vessel to visit an Irish Port since the pandemic started, when the minehunter sailed overnight from Scotland to arrive in Dublin Port this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Royal Navy Minehunter HMS Grimsby,…

The luxury Baltic Sea cruise-ferry, MS Romantika yesterday heads up the Firth of Clyde bound for Glasgow where the ship will be docked during COP26 so to house delegates. The ferry Afloat adds, asides working on charter, normally plied between Sweden and Latvia, though due to Covid, services has been suspended since March, 2020.

Chartered Baltic Sea Cruise Ferry Arrives in Glasgow Ahead of COP26

14th October 2021 Ferry

The first of two large Baltic Sea cruise ferries which arrived yesterday (13 Oct) on the River Clyde is set to house COP26 delegates in Glasgow. The cruise ferry that called to the Scottish city was MS Romantika which has docked…

The UK Ship repair and ship building specialist A&P Group (Tyne, Tees & Falmouth) has appointed Eddie Purves as its new group managing director. Above the cruiseship (Adonia previously with P&O Cruises) in dry-dock at the group's facility in Falmouth, Cornwall.

UK Ship Repair And Ship Builder A&P Group Appoints New Group Managing Director

14th October 2021 Shipyards

The UK ship repair and ship building specialist the A&P Group has announced the appointment of its new group managing director. Eddie Purves takes the lead of A&P’s three facilities located on the Tyne, Tees and Falmouth, following more than…

Britains Biggest 'Box' Port: Maersk, the world's largest container shipping company, has diverted some vessels away from the English Port of Felixstowe, which handles 36% of the UK's containerised freight. Above: Mette Maersk an E-class (18,000TEU) containership berthed at the east coast port in Suffolk on the North Sea, where Afloat adds global trade routes include the major Europe-Asia services via the Suez Canal.

No Need to Panic Buy for Christmas, Britain Says after Port Chaos

13th October 2021 Ports & Shipping

The British Government said today that people should buy normally for Christmas and that there would be no shortage of gifts after shipping containers carrying toys and electrical goods were diverted from the UK's biggest port because it was full.…

Northern Ireland Protocal: Freight lorries on board a ferry bound for Belfast during a crossing of the North Channel from Scotland.

Protocol: EU to Offer Fewer Northern Ireland Border Checks on British Goods

13th October 2021 Ferry

According to BBC News, the EU is to set out proposals later to address the row about trade in Northern Ireland. The UK wants to change the deal struck as part of the Brexit process to allow goods to circulate…

Irish-French sea connections reach 44 with new Dunkirk terminal. AFLOAT highlights these routes is a combination of ro-ro (ferry) and lo-lo (container) shipping routes operating directly between Ireland and mainland Europe through France.

Irish Minister Opens New Dunkirk Terminal As Connections on Ireland-France Routes Reach 44

11th October 2021 Ferry

Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, is today inaugurating a new Irish terminal at the French ferry port of Dunkirk, with Ireland-France shipping routes rising from 12 before Brexit to 44 now. It has already handled nearly 50,000 freight units…

Export performance is improving at Irish firms, an Enterprise Ireland survey has found

More Than Half of Exporting Businesses Expect Exports to Rise

11th October 2021 Ports & Shipping

A survey has revealed that more than half of exporting businesses here have seen their exports increase this year compared to last year, despite the impact of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the new survey carried out by…

Investigation: The turmoil engulfing Scotland’s ferry service is fuelling island depopulation and leaving remote businesses “teetering on the brink”, according to community leaders. Above: The raised bow visor of the veteran ferry Hebridean Isles, dating to 1985, Afloat adds operates between Kennacraig (above) on Mull of Kintyre (Argyll) to Islay, the southernmost of the inner Hebrides Isles that is closest to Northern Ireland.

Proud Scottish Ferry Industry Buffeted by Failure

10th October 2021 Ferry

Vessels carrying passengers were once built to last, now under the Scottish National Party (SNP) they are not being built at all. The operator at the heart of Scotland’s west coast ferry crisis, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), has been around for…

Regina Seaways has entered service for DFDS Rosslare Europort-Dunkirk route, boosting capacity by 30% on the direct route to the EU. The ropax built by Apuania approaches the Wexford port.

Regina's Rosslare Europort Debut Boosts Brexit-Buster Capacity by 30% on Ireland-EU Route

9th October 2021 Rosslare Europort

Regina Seaways is the latest freight-only ferry to serve DFDS Rosslare Europort-Dunkirk 'Brexit-buster' route, having this month begun service on the direct link to the continental mainland, writes Jehan Ashmore. The debut of Regina Seaways further increases capacity to 30%…

Operation Toto is focusing on passengers moving through Dublin Port where Afloat adds at the main ferry terminal (No.1) is parked a DSPCA Mobile Veterinary Unit.

DSPCA Supporting Efforts in Dublin Port to Clamp Down on illegal Movement of Animals

9th October 2021 Dublin Port

An animal charity has joined forces with Gardaí and Revenue custom officers in Dublin Port to stop the illegal movement of pets. Operation Toto involves the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), gardaí and custom officers…

Cadets from Trinity House’s Merchant Navy Scholarship Scheme will join other Merchant Navy trainees on board UK Royal Navy ships as part of a learning exchange. Trinity House Deck Cadet Scarlett Barnett-Smith, currently on transfer to the UK's Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Tamar, is seen on board taking a navigational fix. As AFLOAT reported earlier this year, the Batch 2 River class OPV was deployed to Jersey, Channel Islands during a post-Brexit fishery access rights dispute between British and French fishermen.

Cadets from Trinity House to Join UK Royal Navy Ships in New Merchant Navy Training Link-Up

8th October 2021 Ports & Shipping

Trinity House which is the General Lighthouse Authority responsible for England, Wales and the Channel Islands, is in an exchange scheme between the UK Merchant Navy and the Royal Navy. The Merchant Navy Cadets sponsored by Trinity House as part of…

Queen Elizabeth, became the the 1000th cruise ship to visit Belfast Harbour where a tug led the traditional precession of water cannons on display yesterday evening. The Cunard Line 'Vista' class ship departed the port for the sixth, and final time this season

1,000th Cruise Ship Call to Belfast Harbour As 'Cunarder' Vista-Class Visits

8th October 2021 Cruise Liners

The 1,000th cruise ship call to Belfast Harbour took place yesterday according to Cruise Belfast, which works in partnership between the port and Visit Belfast. Cunard Line's MS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Belfast marking a significant milestone for tourism in…

Members of the Defence Forces are drawn from several nationalities. Above crew on the bridge of an Irish Naval Service vessel.

Call from PDFORRA for Automatic Citizenship after Five Years in Defence Forces Service

8th October 2021 Navy

PDFORRA the representative group of the Defence Forces, has called for automatic citizenship to be given to non-nationals who have completed five years' service in the Army, the Naval Service or the Air Corps and who have attained a conduct…

Kinsale Gas Field's final support ship, Ocean Spey which was based out of Cork Harbour through the Mainport Group, was bade a sad farewell as their support ship was delivered to new owners. The ship sailed to Spain from where above is a scene taken just before the Irish flag was lowered for the last time.

Cork Harbour's Mainport Based Vessel Is Bid Farewell As the Final Kinsale Gas Field Support Ship

7th October 2021 Cork Harbour

The Cork Harbour based Ocean Spey has been sold by the Mainport Group which operated the supply/standby support vessel for the past five years at PSE's Kinsale Gas Field which was decommissioned this year, writes Jehan Ashmore. According to Mainport, the…

Global supply-chain chaos: Carriers could earn as much as $150bn this year, and the same again for 2022. The container sector has bottleneck at ports worsened by increasing number of smaller 'box-boat' vessels (as above) on the main trade lanes.

Potential for Further Supply-Chain Chaos to Bolster Carrier Finances through 2022

7th October 2021 Ports & Shipping

Disruption of supply chains could last until the end of next year, keeping freight rates at elevated levels for longer than expected and boosting container line profitability. Analysts at Drewry said the longer-than-anticipated period of disruption had led it to…