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.

Pride of Hull departed its UK namesake port city (above on Humberside) on the North Sea bound for Rotterdam when an engine room fire took place. AFLOAT's photo of the giant cruiseferry is one of the largest in Europe has a capacity for 1,360 passengers, 250 cars and 400 freight vehicles. Among facilities is a traditional Irish Pub Bar. P&O's operations on the Irish Sea comprise of the Liverpool-Dublin service and the North Channel link of Cairnryan-Larne.

P&O Cruiseferry Giant on UK-EU 'Landbridge' Route Returns to Humber after Engine Room Fire

22nd October 2020 Ferry

P&O Ferries operator on the Irish Sea in addition to a North Sea 'landbridge' link to mainland Europe served by Pride of Hull was stranded with almost 300 passengers on board after an engine room fire. The fire took place…

A UK Shipyard previously owned by Babcock Marine which built a quartet of 'Beckett' class OPV90's for the Irish Naval Service has been given a British MoD pledge to build a trio of warships creating 600 jobs.

UK Shipyard that Built 'Beckett' Series for Irish Navy Given Warship Pledge at H&W Appledore

22nd October 2020 Ports & Shipping

A UK shipyard that built a quartet of 'Beckett' class OPV's for the Irish Naval Service has been given a British Ministry of Defence pledge to build three warships which has been hailed as good news for Appledore Shipyard in…

Newbuild RRS David Attenborough, once dubbed 'Boaty McBoatface', will be undergoing trials in the UK coastal waters off north Wales and its crew will be training in Holyhead ahead of polar trip. Above RRS David Attenborough was built at Cammell Laird shipyard (as above) in Birkenhead, Merseyside. AFLOAT adds the newbuild is this afternoon opposite at the famous Liverpool Waterfront.

Newbuild RRS Sir David Attenborough to Sail to Holyhead, Wales for Trials

21st October 2020 Marine Science

Research newbuild RRS Sir David Attenborough is set to undergo two weeks of technical trials off the coast of north Wales The UK's most advanced polar research vessel set sail from Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead on Wednesday morning (Afloat…

SPORTING A NEW LOOK: Former Royal Mail Ship, RMS St. Helena that served its South Atlantic UK territory namesake is now to be used to transport a new electric off-road racing series called Extreme E. The 30 year old Scottish built ship simply renamed without its RMS status as St. Helena, last month completed 18 months in dry dock following a multi-million pound refit contract at Cammell Laird on Merseyside. On the opposite side of the Irish Sea at Dublin Port, the RMS St. Helena made a notable once off visit during a special charter cruise in 1995.

Irish Sea Shipyard In UK Cammell Laird Reports Strong 2020 With Continous Work

20th October 2020 Ports & Shipping

The Irish Sea shipyard of Cammell Laird in the UK at Birkenhead on Merseyside has reported a strong 2020 despite the challenges of Covid-19 – with its construction hall, workshops and dry docks in continuous use since the start of…

The issue was raised during a meeting this morning of the EU-UK Joint Committee. Above Afloat adds it the Port of Larne, the busy Co. Antrim ferryport where the service to Cairnryan, Scotland is the shortest sea-route between N.I and Britain.

European Union Seeks Staff at Ports to Ensure Implementation of Northern Ireland Protocol

19th October 2020 Ports & Shipping

The EU is seeking to have 15 customs and veterinary staff working alongside UK officials at ports and Belfast Airport to ensure the proper implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, RTÉ News understands. In return, the EU would drop an…

Shipping line CLdN says it has ‘contingencies’ for UK ‘landbridge’ delays in a hard Brexit. Above AFLOAT's photo taken in 2018 on the day of the naming ceremony of CLdN's ro-ro freight ferry MV Celine, the world's largest short-sea ro-ro of its type which runs out of Dublin Port. On the occasion Afloat took a visit to the bridge from where the following information was sourced in terms of capacity. In total there is 7,972 lane freight metres, cars (all decks) 3,795 and a capacity for 503 trucks. Parked on Ocean Pier is a 'staged' truck trailer.

Ro-Ro ‘Brexit Buster’ Can ‘Dramatically’ Increase Direct Ferries to Mainland Europe

19th October 2020 Ferry

CLdN Ro Ro S.A. which is the largest shipping line connecting Ireland and continental Europe says it can “dramatically” increase its services if there is a hard Brexit. The Luxembourg-based shipping line, The Irish Times reports, operates direct ferries seven…

Personnel in Naval Service to Get €10,000 Loyalty Payment

18th October 2020 Navy

Personnel within the Naval Service have been thrown a financial lifeline, reports Irish Examiner, in the form of a €10,000 loyalty payment, which it is hoped will stem the exodus of trained crew members. Defence Minister Simon Coveney has announced…

The fisheries negotiations have been stalled with the EU seeking to retain as much access to UK waters as possible. AFLOAT adds trawlers berthed at Castletownbere, Co. Cork along with the blue hulled 62 ton bollard pull tug Ocean Challenger operated by Atlantic Marine & Towage.

Energy Market EU is to Leverage in Brexit Talks Over UK Fishery Access

16th October 2020 Fishing

As RTE News undertands the European Union is considering making a more explicit link between energy and fish as Brexit negotiations enter a critical phase. A number of sources have confirmed that the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier will seek…

Cameroon flagged cargoship Sheksna which departed Africa with aggregates arrived into the Port of Sligo this week with the scenic backdrop of Benbulbin. Only last month the north-west port saw a new cargo in the form of 'smokeless' coal from the Arigna plant exported to the UK.

African Aggregate Imported to Port of Sligo from Where New Export in 'Smokeless' Coal Is A First

16th October 2020 Irish Ports

A Cameroon flagged cargoship which sailed from north Africa three weeks ago, Afloat tracked arrive to the Port of Sligo with a cargo discharged for customers Arigna Fuels, writes Jehan Ashmore. The MV Sheksna (1994/2,052grt) on 23 September departed Sfax,…

Jobs: Vacancy for Operations Officer at Irish Lights. Above Afloat's photo of ILV Granuaile an aids to navigation vessel which among its duties is buoy deployment and recovery along the coast but also offshore throughout the entire coastline of the island of Ireland. The vessel is seen moving astern in the ship's homeport of Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Vacancy of Operations Officer On Board Irish Lights Aids to Navigation Vessel

15th October 2020 Jobs

A vacancy at sea is sought from the Commissioners of Irish Lights for the position of an Operations Officer on board their aids to navigation management and maintenance tender ILV Granuaile. The role in Irish Lights will be both challenging…

Foreign Affairs Minster Simon Coveney addressed an IEA's Brexit webinar to update on EU-UK negotiations, Brexit readiness and what exporters/importers can expect from 1 January 2021. Above Afloat's photo of ro-ro freight-ferries in close proximity on the Dublin Bay horizon.

Foreign Affairs Minister Addresses IEA Brexit Webinar with Update on EU-UK Negotiations

15th October 2020 Ferry

Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney TD addressed members of the Irish Exports Association (IEA) during a webiner to give an update on EU-UK negotiations, Brexit readiness and what exporters and importers can expect from 1 January 2021.…

Maersk Line, the world's largest operator in container shipping is to cut 2,000 jobs. AFLOAT today tracked the line's Maersk Niamey of 2,592TEU (nominal) arrival at the Port of Cork following a trans-Atlantic route from Puerto Moin, Costa Rica in central America. Cork is part of Maersk's 'CRX - Southbound" service which connects Ireland with other Latin American destinations. The ship's next port of call is the UK at the London Container Terminal at Tilbury. Cork along with Dublin (above photo) and Belfast is also served by Maersk 'feeder' services to mainland Europe.

World's Largest Container Line to Cut 2,000 Jobs in Logistics Restructure

14th October 2020 Ports & Shipping

Shipping container giant, Maersk revealed that it will make around 2,000 staff redundant due to changes to the organisation linked to the integration of Damco into its Ocean Logistics business and the removal of the separate Safmarine brand, which it…

Dmitri Jelezoglo student of NMCI presented with the award by Captain Dermot Gray

Irish Institute of Master Mariners Present Award to Student of NMCI

14th October 2020 Ports & Shipping

The Irish Institute of Master Mariners (IIMM) presented the annual Don Curtis Award to a student of the National Maritime College of Ireland. Sponsored by the IIMM the award was presented by Captain Dermot Gray, the Institute's President to student…

UK Ferry Contracts: Additional capacity will be on quieter ferry mainland Europe-UK routes to ports among them Felixstowe (above) on the North Sea. AFLOAT's photo of DFDS ro-ro freightferry Gardenia Seaways. Opposite of the Suffolk port is Harwich in Essex where another reciprient of the Post-Brexit contract, Stena Line serve Hook van Holland, Netherlands.

Ferry Operators Handed £77.6m in UK Government Post-Brexit Contracts

13th October 2020 Ferry

Ferry firms involving four operators have landed UK government contracts worth a total of £77.6m to provide post-Brexit freight capacity. Brittany Ferries, DFDS, P&O Ferries and Stena Line, according to BBC News, will have the job of ensuring medical supplies…

A computer-aided-design (CAD) image of the ferry newbuild for Isle of Man which is due to enter service in 2023. The ropax will be flagged with the Isle of Man Ship Registry.

New Hybrid Ferry for Manx Service to be Flagged With Isle of Man Registry

13th October 2020 Ferry

A ferry newbuild for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company which is to be a Diesel Electric Hybrid powered ship, will be flagged with the Isle of Man Ship Registry, extending a longstanding relationship between the two Manx organisations.…

As from last week, Luxembourg based CLdN Ro Ro S.A. added 25% extra capacity on both Rotterdam-London and Rotterdam-Humberside routes, where above AFLOAT's photo at the North Sea port (Killingholme) is berthed 'Brexit-Buster' Delphine which occasionally serves Dublin-mainland Europe routes to Zeebrugge and Rotterdam. Alongside is a fleetmate Yasmine which too operates at times on the Irish routes.

CLdN Ramps Up Capacity On UK-Europe Routes in Run Up to Brexit Transitional Stage

12th October 2020 Ferry

CLdN which operates Ireland-mainland Europe routes served by freightferry ro-ro 'Brexit-Busters' tonnage, is to step up preparations for the end of the Brexit transitional phase on 31st December 2020 by introducing additional capacity on its UK routes. (See: Brexit 'Freeports story). …

Afloat adds the ropax Connemara is to return to Irish waters when Brittany Ferries launches a new route, Rosslare Europort-Cherbourg in March 2021. This is due to to increased demand from Irish hauliers for an alternative of a Brexit-bypass of the UK, with freight traffic connecting mainland Europe. The operator is also to launch this December but on a UK-Spain service the newbuild Galicia from Stena Ro Ro's E-Flexer series and which is on charter to Brittany Ferries. In addition the new ferry will also operate a weekly rotation between Portsmouth and Cherbourg.

Traffic for Freight Keeps Rolling with Brittany Ferries

12th October 2020 Ferry

Operator Brittany Ferries says it may have been a season to forget passenger traffic but that freight demand has been kept rolling throughout the year. The ferry company which serves France, Spain, Ireland and the UK had a steady 2020…

Containership Elbtrader (EUCON) berthed at Tivoli Docks on the River Lee, Cork City

Contractors Sought by Port of Cork for Redevelopment of Tivoli Docks

12th October 2020 Port of Cork

Plans at the Port of Cork are underway to move ahead for the long-term redevelopment of the city's Tivoli Docks. Container traffic and other services at Tivoli are to relocate to the new Cork Container Terminal currently under construction at Ringaskiddy.…

Busy day in Dun Laoghaire Harbour which included the Drilling /Survey ship Geoquip Saentis seen arriving at Carlisle Pier which is to remain in port for several days to load stores and equipment in preparation for work at the Arklow Bank Wind Park. In attendence of the ship with its prominent heli-pad is Dublin Port's newest pilot cutter DPC Tolka.

Drill Ship in Dun Laoghaire Harbour: Busier Times As Quartet of Ships Call to Former Ferryport

9th October 2020 Dublin Bay

Dun Laoghaire Harbour is particularly busy than usual as four ships berthed in the former ferryport that has been absent for six years since the withdrawal of Stena's HSS service linking Holyhead in Wales, writes Jehan Ashmore. Stena Line was the…

Maritime digital training firm Tapiit Live launches a new seafarer mental health live training package in advance of World Mental Health Day (tommorrow, 10th October). Among the issues facing seafarers according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) figures estimate that as many as 300,000 seafarers each month will require international flights to enable crew changeovers. Additionally, around 70,000 cruise ship staff are currently waiting for repatriation.

Maritime Digital Firm Launches New Seafarer Mental Health Live Training Package

9th October 2020 Ports & Shipping

Seafarers left stranded by the coronavirus pandemic and facing other challenges is where a UK headquartered maritime tech training company is launching a new package of mental health courses for those working at sea. The launch by Liverpool based Tapiit Live…