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.
Ferry passenger numbers carried by Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for last year, were the highest for 16 years. Figures from the operator which has routes between Douglas and Heysham, Belfast, Dublin and Liverpool, reveal more than 623,000 passengers…
Tighter Brexit Related New UK Customs Controls on Exports from Republic to Britain Come into Effect
31st January 2024 Irish Ports
As of Wednesday midnight, new UK customs controls have come into effect on exports crossing the Irish Sea from the Republic to Britain. It was the British government that flagged the move, however this was delayed several times since the…
Newbuild Arklow Grace, the fourth of Arklow Shipping's G-class cargo ship's launched in the Netherlands, took place on the same day when another vessel for the Irish shipowner also first took to the water, writes Jehan Ashmore. At the shipyard of…
Portrait of Stena Line Owner Unveiled at Belfast Harbour Where Ferry Operator Has Record Freight Volumes
30th January 2024 Stena Line
Ferry operator Stena Line has reported a record year for freight volumes in and out of Belfast Harbour on its routes across the North Channel to Scotland and the Irish Sea to England with approximately 587,000 units being transported in…
Shannon Foynes & Largest Port in Europe, Rotterdam Plan Green Fuels Supply-Chain to Continent
29th January 2024 Shannon Estuary
Shannon Foynes Port Company, which operates Ireland's largest bulk-port and the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, have signed an agreement to develop a supply-chain corridor for exporting green hydrogen into Europe. The hydrogen is to be generated from Ireland’s limitless…
Fifth Eco-Trader for Arklow Shipping Launched with Just Two More Newbuilds to Go
29th January 2024 Arklow Shipping
Once again Arklow Shipping has had Dutch shipbuilder, Royal Bodewes launch an Eco-Trader of their 6,800dwt design series, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Resolve with a newbuild no. (NB: 825) at the Hoogezand yard, near Groningen, is were the launch on…
Figures from CSO Show Irish Ports Handled 11.8 Million tonnes of Goods in Q3, 2023 - Decrease of 4% on Last Year
25th January 2024 Irish Ports
Irish Ports handled 11.8 million tonnes of goods in Q3 of 2023, according to Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures - for the period of July, August and September - a 4% decrease compared with same quarter 2022. As RTE News reports, the…
The cruise ship season at the Port of Cork is to have a surge in the number of vessels accommodated this year with a rise by 23% to 116 vessels. Starting in April, the season will run up to November…
Firth of Clyde’s Main Arran Ferry MV Caledonian Isles Out of Action for Extended Period, While Second Ferry Resumes Service Today
24th January 2024 Ferry
The main Isle of Arran ferry which operates the Ardrossan-Brodick route, reveals Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) will be futher delayed until at least March, reports the Ardrossan&SaltcoatsHerald. MV Caledonian Isles which is undergoing annual overhaul at Dales Marine Service, Greenock, as…
Cost Increases for Ireland's Largest New Naval Service Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) is Likely to Reach €300m
24th January 2024 Navy
An increase in a budget set by the Irish Government for a new Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) to serve the Naval Service, which will easily be the largest ship in the State’s history, in now to cost €300m. The Department of Defence,…
Northern Ireland Protocol: Blamed By Freight Groups for Making it Harder for Irish Sea Ferry in Storm Isha to Head for Port
23rd January 2024 Northern Ireland Waters
Blame has been put directly to the Northern Ireland Protocol for narrowing down the options of captains, as vessels get hit by storms in the Irish Sea. With Storm Isha just over, the News Letter also reported the the severe…
Sailings Not Running at Fishguard Due to Berth Works While Relief Ferry Stena 'Europe' is Under Repairs
23rd January 2024 Stena Line
Ropax Stena Nordica which has been absent from Fishguard Harbour linking Rosslare since early January, had led to a relief ferry that too left the south Wales port due to issues, leaving no ship to cover the route. Operator, Stena Line…
Storm Isha Was One Notch Away from 'Hurricane Force' in the Irish Sea - With Little Respite as Storm Jocelyn Sweeps In
23rd January 2024 Belfast Lough
It was so stormy on the Irish Sea during Storm Isha that the shipping forecast had put the weather conditions just one notch away from being categorised as hurricane force, it has emerged. While on land, Storm Isha interrupted electricity…
The flagship ferry Manxman has made its first ‘virtual’ arrival at the Isle of Man Government's new £70m Liverpool terminal due to open in March. Officers of the Isle of Man Steam Packet, writes IOMToday, undertook a recent trip using…
Cancelled Sailings Continue on Scotland Route Due to Fault Discovered on Isle of Arran Ferry
23rd January 2024 Ferry
On the Firth of Clyde, ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) announced there will be no sailings between Ardrossan and Brodick, Isle of Arran today, 23 January. Following Storm Isha, this time CalMac say the cancellations aren't down to the weather,…
New Charter-Service Fleet Division at Harland & Wolff to Support Group's Shipyards and Clients
23rd January 2024 Shipyards
Shipyard group, Harland & Wolff has formally commenced its marine services offering under Harland & Wolff (Marine Services) Ltd, this is part of its five-market, six-service business growth strategy. (HWMS), HWMS will be focussed on growing and maturing its UK…
Ferry Woes in Scotland Develop at 'Irish' berth as Safety Issues Emerge at Ardrossan Harbour
22nd January 2024 Ferry
Passenger ferry services on one of Scotland's busiest routes is to face a new wave of disruption after divers discovered safety issues at Ardrossan Harbour in north Ayrshire. On Thursday, the Irish Berth was put out of action, as the…
Tanker Requiring Emergency Repairs Calls to Harland & Wolff's Belfast Dry-Dock
22nd January 2024 Shipyards
A Maltese flagged oil/chemical tanker which required emergency repairs is at the shipyard of Harland & Wolff, Belfast having arrived earlier this month, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 127m red hulled tanker, Songa Crystal called to Belfast Lough on 8 January…
Passengers on Ferry During Storm Isha Left Circling in Irish Sea Overnight as Crashing Waves Cause 10-Hour Delay
22nd January 2024 Stena Line
Passengers on a Stena Line ferry from Birkenhead (Liverpool) to Belfast endured a turbulent night on the Irish Sea, as Storm Isha forced the Stena Estrid to go circling for several hours amid the crashing waves. Stena Estrid as of…
Sailings Cancelled on Brittany Ferries Rosslare-Cherbourg Service to Have Involved Final ‘Normandie’ Crossings
20th January 2024 Brittany Ferries
Today’s night-time Brittany Ferries sailing on the Rosslare-Cherbourg service is cancelled, this was to have been the third and final France-Ireland weekend roundtrip operated notably by Normandie in a relief role, writes Jehan Ashmore. The operator’s website sailing update does…
