Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Jehan Ashmore

Jehan Ashmore

Email The Author

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. 

Making a visit to Belfast Harbour today, the largest vessel of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s HNLMS Karel Doorman, an auxiliary logistic support vessel was escorted into the port by a pair of tugs. The Dutch built ship is among several options the Irish Government is looking into as a basis to acquire a €200m newbuild Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) for the Naval Service, enabling humanitarian missions overseas with medical facilities, etc. Above the naval visitor is seen as AFLOAT previously reported when calling to Cobh, Cork Harbour in 2021.

Largest Dutch Navy Vessel that Irish State Examined is Among ‘Blueprint’ for New Naval Service Ship - Visits Belfast Harbour

19th January 2024 Belfast Lough
Of the news yesterday on the Irish Government’s plan to acquire a €200m Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) for the Naval Service, is based upon options, among them a design similar to a Dutch Navy vessel which by coincidence was in the Irish…
New Brexit Paperwork: Firms in Ireland will be required to have pre-lodge customs declarations ahead of shipping their products to Britain from the end of this month.

Introduction of New Brexit-Related Import Controls to Be In Force Effective End of January

19th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
Businesses throughout Ireland that are involved in goods exported to or through the UK, have been urged to ensure that they are fully aware and be prepared for the Brexit-related import controls. The new customs measures (click to consult) are…
Ulysses, Irish Ferries cruiseferry of the Dublin-Holyhead route, is having an annual overhaul at A&P Tyne, which is the largest commercial dry-dock on the England’s east coast. While away from Irish Sea duties, W.B. Yeats is operating the roster of the cruiseferry. Also above at the North Sea marine engineering facility is Prysmian's Cable Enterprise alongside when berthed on the Tyne.

Ulysses Undergoes Overhaul for the First time At UK East Coast Dry-Dock, A&P Tyne

19th January 2024 Irish Ferries
Irish Ferries main vessel on the Dublin-Holyhead route, Ulysses is receiving an annual overhaul but for the first time at A&P Tyne on the North Sea, which has the largest dry-dock on the east coast of England, writes Jehan Ashmore.…
Last year, Brittany Ferries carried almost twice as many Spaniards travelling to Ireland, at just under 6,000, compared with 3,400 holidaying in the UK. This is even though services have been running from Spain to the UK for 45 years, where the first direct Ireland-Iberian link was only established just five years ago. The company’s newest cruise ferry, the LNG-powered, Salamanca (as above) operates on the year-round Rosslare-Bilbao route, noting as AFLOAT previously reported, there is a winter-only route of Rosslare-Santander which will remain in service until March 2024.

Brittany Ferries Reveals Twice as Many Spanish Passengers Visit Ireland Than They do the UK

19th January 2024 Brittany Ferries
Operator Brittany Ferries last year recorded more than double the number of passengers travelling between Ireland and Spain as 57,000 passengers made the voyage across the Bay of Biscay, an increase of 116% compared with 2022. The surge in volumes…
Isles of Scilly Steamship Group has signed contracts with French shipbuilder group, Piriou of Concarneau, Brittany, to build in Vietnam, a new three deck passenger ferry Scillonian IV and a cargo vessel to serve the islands off Cornwall, England. The newbuilds replace veteran ferry Scillonian III and freighter, Gry Maritha on the Penzance-Hugh Town, St. Mary’s, Scilly route. The newbuilds are to be delivered in 2026. Afloat adds, the contract will strengthen Cornish-Breton ties as both Penzance and Concarneau, have been twin towns since 1982.

New Isles of Scilly Steamship Group Vessels Remain on Target for 2026 as Contracts Signed

18th January 2024 Shipyards
Operator, Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG) has has signed landmark contracts with a French shipbuilding group, Piriou, which will secure the long-term future of passenger travel and freight supplies to and from the islands off Cornwall, England. The ISSG which…
The ship-repair division at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead experienced significant growth towards the end of 2023, up by 50% of same time last year, as more than 11 vessels arrived from new and returning customers. Among the callers was dredger, Freeway which had to temporarily go off service while on Waterford estuary, but returned to successfully complete the work last month.

Merseyside Ship Repair Division at Cammell Laird Experiences Significant Growth

18th January 2024 Shipyards
The commercial ship repair division of shipbuilder, Cammell Laird, Birkenhead has experienced significant growth towards the end of 2023, as business was up by 50% when compared from this time last year. In the last two months alone, the facility…
Flagship Manxman which entered service last year, is the largest ever ferry built for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. The newbuild operating Douglas-Heysham, cost a total of £80m which included extra funding of £2m to cover berthing trials (etc), throughout Irish Sea ports among them AFLOAT reported calling to Belfast to serve Festive Season sailings to and from the Manx capital.

Cost of Isle of Man Flagship Ferry Expected to Be £80m Says Treasury Minister

18th January 2024 Ferry
Overall the total cost of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's new flagship ferry is expected to be £80m, confirmed the Manx Treasury Minister, reports BBC News. According to the Minister, Dr. Alex Allinson, an additional £2m is on…
Growing concerns of instability on Red Sea commercial shipping could affect Irish supply chains for months as close to 20% of global trade transits through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Shipping in the Red Sea Sees Irish Exporters Advised to Engage with Freight Carriers

18th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
Disruption to shipping in the Red Sea has led to Irish export businesses being advised to engage with their freight carriers and look at their supply chains as the situation in the Middle East region continues. Due to attacks by…
The Belfast HUB-IN project with £120,000 in funding is to enhance, and preserve the Maritime Mile’s rich and unique heritage. The funding is part of a €7.9m European initiative that aims to transform historic urban areas through innovation and spread public benefits from urban regeneration. It’s funded by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under a grant agreement.

Funding for Belfast Maritime Mile to Bring Innovative Visitor Experiences Along the Lagan

18th January 2024 Belfast Lough
Funding amounting to £120,000 has been awarded to six proposals from Belfast’s creative and digital businesses, artists and innovators to develop innovative visitor experiences to animate and enrich the city’s Maritime Mile and which over the year's has included a…
Red Sea: European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) fully supports the safety concerns of shipping lines, emphasising the need to protect crews and vessels. The situation raises substantial worries for Europe's ports, causing disruptions in the supply chain and jeopardising just-in-time deliveries to certain industries. The attacks are disrupting traffic through the Suez Canal, a crucial waterway and the fastest shipping route between Asia and Europe, which has led to re-routing, adding 3,000-3,500 nautical miles, extending the voyage by 8 to 15 days, depending on the shipping segment.

Europe's Ports Express Concern on Impacts of Escalating Conflict in the Red Sea

18th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
After the serious attacks on ships, mainly, but not only container ships, in the Red Sea by the Houthi movement, has led to shipping lines in deciding to redirect their ships around the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. The…
The proposed €200m newbuild Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) project for the Naval Service would be the biggest ever vessel of the State, and will likely be similar to the Royal Netherlands Navy’s HNLMS Karel Doorman as AFLOAT reported on a visit above to Cobh, Cork Harbour in 2021, which was repeated the following year. The 204m auxiliary vessel displacing 27,800 tonnes, is a joint logistic support ship designed to assist amphibious operations and is able to carry helicopters, was built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) and commissioned almost a decade ago in March 2014.

Irish State Moves Closer to Purchase €200m Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) that Will be Largest in Naval Service History

18th January 2024 Navy
The State’s purchase of the Naval Service’s largest ship in its history, which is designed to respond to humanitarian crisis, notably overseas, is set to move forward when the release of documents are to be issued across an EU platform.…
European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has highly welcomed the EU Parliament’s recognition of and support for the strategic and vital role that Europe’s ports play for European society and economy. In a vote took on the Berendsen report, this was adopted with 585 in favour, 21 against and 26 abstentions.

ESPO Welcomes EU Parliament’s Recognition of Support for Strategic & Comprehensive Role of Europe’s Ports

18th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
The European Parliament officially adopted the Berendsen report, an own-initiative report on “building a comprehensive European Port Strategy” following yesterday's vote: (585 in favour, 21 against and 26 abstentions). In response, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) highly welcomes the…
A Rosslare ‘Europort’ stalwart: Stena Europe returned to its former Rosslare-Fishguard route this month, albeit in a relief mode, however due to mechanical issues, sailings since Monday have been suspended on the Ireland-Wales link where the ferry served until year, followed by a brief charter on the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain-Morocco) for Operation Marhaba ending in September. On New Year’s Day, AFLOAT tracked ‘Europe’ from Holyhead when off Llŷn Peninsula, to Fishguard and later to Rosslare, but this week’s cancelled crossings forced the ferry to Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, for repairs on Merseyside.

Stena 'Europe' Returns to Rosslare-Fishguard in Relief Role But Is Disrupted Leading to Sailings Suspended

17th January 2024 Stena Line
Stena Europe which served Rosslare-Fishguard for more than 20 years until replaced by a ropax ferry last year, was due to re-enter the Ireland-Wales link this month albeit in a relief capacity but disruption has intervened, writes Jehan Ashmore In…
In this scene is the public viewing spectacle at the launch of Arklow Ranger at a Dutch shipyard last year, to today’s completion of a maiden voyage by the 6,800dwat cargo ship to the Norwegian port at Glomfjord which is within the Arctic Circle.

Arklow Ranger Makes Maiden Voyage Across North Sea to Norwegian Fjord Port Within the Arctic Circle

16th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
The newest Irish flagged merchant ship, Arklow Ranger has made its maiden voyage from The Netherlands to Norway as the newbuild dry-cargo ship arrived this afternoon into the Arctic Circle, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Ranger departed the Dutch north-east port…
Alpha Marine’s newly acquired multicat AMS Retriever, built by Damen Shipyard to their 2309 series is pictured recently in Rotterdam. The addition, AFLOAT adds follows that of a tug/workboat of the same name which is no longer part of the Wicklow based fleet.

Wicklow Based Alpha Marine Acquire A Damen Shipyard Built Multicat

16th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
Wicklow Port based multi-disciplinary marine company, Alpha Marine has acquired a Damen Shipyard built multi-cat of their 2309 design, which had been operating in the Netherlands. The purchase of the multicat from Purus HST of Swansea, Wales, was concluded in mid-December…
After P&O Ferries closed the Dublin-Liverpool route last month, their former Irish Sea ropax Norbank is to open a new ro-ro route linking London (Tilbury)-Rotterdam, the registered homeport of the Dutch-flagged freight vessel which Afloat tracked leaving Merseyside in late December and arrive in the Netherlands. Originally, Norbank began a career with North Sea Ferries/which became part of P&O. Whereas, twin, Norbay which also served the Liverpool link, continues to operate from Dublin but on charter to ICG/Irish Ferries, connecting Cherbourg, France.

P&O Ferries former Irish Sea Ropax to Strengthen North Sea Presence on New London–Rotterdam Freight Route

16th January 2024 Ferry
Operator P&O Ferries which closed the Dublin-Liverpool route last month, has announced a new ro-ro freight route in the North Sea, between London (Tilbury 2) and the Dutch port of Rotterdam (Europoort) which is to start in March. The UK-Netherlands…
WEC Lines B.V. has introduced a new direct service between the Port of Liverpool and Agadir, Morocco (via Spain, Portugal & Canaries), so to improve importing fresh produce to the UK, notably tomatoes from the north African nation. Afloat highlights that only last year, WEC based in Rotterdam, celebrated its fifth decade, trading short-sea and deep-sea. Above WEC’s Van Eyk at the Portuguese port of Leixões which is part of the UK-Iberian-Africa liner service.

Liverpool Sees New Morocco, Africa Service as WEC Lines Add Call Boosting Trade in Tomatoes to UK

14th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
Shipping operator, WEC Lines this month is introducing a new direct service between Liverpool and Agadir in Morocco, offering a fast and green alternative for fresh produce importers when compared to overland trucking. According to the Port of Liverpool, the…
CGI of newbuild twins, being built in Turkey for Calmac’s ferry routes to Islay / Jura, off the Mull of Kintyre are progressing well unlike Scottish shipyard tonnage. As at a Clyde shipyard, another second pair for the Arran service, are considerably delayed, as they were to enter service in 2018.

Islay Ferry from Shipyard in Turkey to Arrive Five Years Faster than Second Arran Vessel Built in Scotland

14th January 2024 Shipyards
Under construction in Turkey, a ferry to serve Scottish west coast operator CalMac, it has emerged is on track to be delivered five years faster than the second of a pair involved in the fiasco at the nationalised shipyard Ferguson…
Last year the Port of Galway handled 500,259 tonnes of cargo, a notably highlight was a strong boost in growth from ships transporting inbound components to complete onshore based wind projects. Above ships offshore of the port where AFLOAT adds, the next scheduled arrival with wind-turbine components is 26 January, on board Wilson Rotterdam, operated by Norwegian ship-owner, Wilson AS of Bergen.

Port of Galway Hits Turnover of €6m as Benefits of Wind Projects Blow Ashore

14th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
Turnover rose to almost €6m last year at the Port of Galway, following strong growth in shipping operations linked to transporting inbound components used for onshore based wind projects. The revenue generated by the port, recently awarded European TEN-T status,…
World’s largest container carrier, Maersk has told Reuters, that it hopes the threat level can be lowered following co-ordinated action in the Red Sea.

World’s Largest Container Operator Hopes for Better Times Amid Red Sea Houthi Airstrikes

12th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
Global container line, AP Moller-Maersk hopes the presence of naval forces in the Red Sea in addition to political action will allow vessels to resume transiting the Middle East waterway, a major international link between the Indian subcontinent, Asia and…
Page 8 of 354

Featured Sailing School

INSS sidebutton

Featured Clubs

dbsc mainbutton
Howth Yacht Club
Kinsale Yacht Club
National Yacht Club
Royal Cork Yacht Club
Royal Irish Yacht club
Royal Saint George Yacht Club

Featured Brokers

leinster sidebutton

Featured Webcams

Featured Associations

ISA sidebutton
ICRA
isora sidebutton

Featured Marinas

dlmarina sidebutton

Featured Chandleries

CHMarine Afloat logo
https://afloat.ie/resources/marine-industry-news/viking-marine

Featured Sailmakers

northsails sidebutton
uksails sidebutton
watson sidebutton

Featured Blogs

W M Nixon - Sailing on Saturday
podcast sidebutton
BSB sidebutton
wavelengths sidebutton
 

Featured Stories

Please show your support for Afloat by donating

Afloat Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine

Copyright © 2024 Baily Publications Ltd Terms and Conditions

Our site uses cookies. If you're not happy about that please hit your back button.

Web Design & Development by Red Evolution