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Jehan Ashmore

Jehan Ashmore

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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 new Isle of Man Steam Packet ferry terminal at Liverpool built by an Irish contractor, is to be prepared for berthing trials by their fast-craft and new flagship during Spring.

Preparations By Isle of Man Steam Packet to Start Ferry Trials at New Liverpool Terminal

12th January 2024 Ferry
Preparations by the Isle of Man Packet Company reports 3FM are to see the ferry operator start trials and safety training at their new terminal in Liverpool. The infrastructure built by a UK arm of the Irish contractor, John Sisk…
European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has welcomed the EU Parliament and Council in reaching an agreement on TEN-T network, as the role of ports’ will now be assessed not only on the basis of tonnage, but also on its contribution to the energy transition.

Europe’s Ports Welcome EU Agreement on TEN-T Regulation On Inclusion of Energy Ports

12th January 2024 Ports & Shipping
The EU Parliament and Council on 18 December reached a deal on the review of the TEN-T Regulation, setting the requirements for all transport nodes and modes being part of the TEN-T network. The new Regulation revises the original Regulation…
The Department of Transport’s ‘Review of the National Ports Policy' consists of a two-part consultation process, noting final submissions from stakeholders will close on 15th January, 2024. Above a bulk-carrier berthed at an Irish Port.

Review of National Ports Policy - Closing Date For Submissions 15th January, 2024

10th January 2024 Irish Ports
The Department of Transport back in October launched 'A review of the National Ports Policy' which consists of a two-part consultation process, noting that final submissions from stakeholders will close on 15th January, 2024. Part 1 will involve the publication…
Stena Line marked a steel-cutting ceremony for the first of its ‘NewMax’ hybrid freight-ferries, as construction began in Weihai, China. The pair will be able to operate on methanol fuel, will boost capacity by 80% on the Belfast-Heysham (freight) route in 2025, when compared to Afloat adds the existing tonnage twins, Stena Hibernia and Stena Scotia.

Start of Construction for Stena Line's Hybrid 'NewMax' Freight-Ferries On the Belfast-Heysham Route

10th January 2024 Stena Line
Operator, Stena Line marked a milestone towards sustainable shipping last week with a steel-cutting ceremony for its first ‘NewMax’ hybrid ro-ro freight-ferry under construction in Weihai, China and which is to serve on the Irish Sea. Last year the Swedish…
Manxman’s sailing schedule of the Isle of Man Steam Packet resumed to normal service as a breakthrough was reached with a seafarers’ trade union. Above freight trucks provide essential daily island life-line goods on the Douglas-Heysham ‘flagship’ operated year-round route.

Sailings by Isle of Man Steam Packet Return to Scheduled Service after Breakthrough

10th January 2024 Ferry
Flagship ferry Manxman has returned to normal service on the Douglas-Heysham route which resumed with twice a day crossings that include evening and overnight sailings. The move as IOMToday reports, follows a breakthrough between the Isle of Man Steam Packet…
UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps who is also the government's shipbuilding tsar, has written a letter to the chairman of the Council of the Isles of Scilly over the decision by the ISSG to go overseas and order a new ferry and cargo ship with a French shipbuilder, albeit both vessels will be built in Asia. The new tonnage is to replace the seasonal ferry, Scillonian III and year-round freighter, Gry Maritha, which serve between Penzance and the islands off Cornwall.

UK Government Minister Wades into Isles of Scilly Ferry Row Over Contract to French Shipbuilder Group

9th January 2024 Shipyards
The UK Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps has intervened in a row over the shipyard which the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG) has decided to order a contract with a French firm for its new fleet. In a letter written, BBC…
In this scene taken in the early hours, newbuild Arklow Ranger, an Eco-Trader 6,800dwt class cargo ship, departed a Dutch inland shipyard to Eemshaven so to undergo sea trials in the North Sea.

Arklow Ranger Reaches Seaport Before Shipbuilder's Trials Take Full Course

9th January 2024 Shipyards
In an update on Arklow Ranger, the fourth of seven Dutch shipyard completed Eco-Traders of the 6,800dwt / R class cargo ships, departed last month from its inland location to reach a seaport, writes Jehan Ashmore. An Autumnal launch of…
Work is underway at Harland & Wolff’s Appledore shipyard, Devon, England on the construction of a specialist cable barge which is to serve the requirements of the UK’s Royal Navy at Portsmouth.

First Steel Cut at Harland & Wolff Appledore for New Anchor/Cable Barge Based in UK

9th January 2024 Shipyards
Belfast shipbuilder, the Harland & Wolff Group have cut the first steel on a new cable barge it is building for defence contractor KBS Maritime of Portsmouth from where the vessel will be located at the UK’s main naval base.…
A Grimaldi Lines vehicle-carrier vessel, Grande Europa, which is a caller at the Port of Cork above, and where at Ringaskiddy, a fleetmate, Grande Anversa arrived at the weekend. On board were the first of an estimated 8,000 new cars which are due to be delivered to the port alone this month.

Looking to Build at Port of Cork, As 6,000 Car Storage Facility Is Explored Amid Surge in Imports

8th January 2024 Port of Cork
The possibility of building at the Port of Cork, a vast 6,000-space multi-storey storage compound for new cars imports is been explored, after it had to cope with a 60% surge in new cars that led to opening a new…
The dispute has led to a lack of officers’ affecting evening and overnight crossings of the flagship, Manxman on the Douglas-Heysham route, with sailings suspended since Wednesday.

Officers Industrial Action at Manx Ferry Operator Over New Contracts Have Halted

7th January 2024 Ferry
Officers who took industrial action at a Manx ferry firm over new contracts has been halted, in which their seafarers’ trade union has confirmed. The move follows confirmation by the operator, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company which sent…
A new Cork-France route could be up and running from Spring, should discussions progress to start the first ever direct ‘passenger’ /freight route between Munster and Boulogne-sur-Mer in the very north of France, where historically routes have served further to the west, among them Le Havre.

New Cork-France Ferry Route Offering Six-Day-a-Week Service Is on the Cards

6th January 2024 Ferry
A major new ferry connection of a Cork-Europe route this Spring/early Summer looks likely as a company is reported to be in the final stage of starting the direct link to Boulogne in northern France. As Cork Beo reports, plans…
Department of Defence advice former flagship of the Naval Service, L.É. Eithne be scrapped amid fears of repeating the “L.É. Aisling situation”, as the ship ended up in the hands of a Libyan warlord. L.É. Eithne, the helicopter patrol vessel (HPV) became the last naval ship constructed in Ireland for the Naval Service and as Afloat highlights, historically the HPV also represents the final ship ever to be built at an Irish shipyard, Cork Verolme Dockyard (V.C.D.) in 1984.

Officials from Defence Recommended L.É. Eithne Be Scrapped to Avoid Repeat of ‘L.É. Aisling Situation’ Involving Warlord

5th January 2024 Navy
Officials at the Department of Defence, reports The Irish Times, advised that the former flagship of the Naval Service be scrapped amid fears of repeating the “LÉ Aisling situation”, as the ex-Naval Service vessel had eventually ended up in the…
A number of options have been put forward by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to resolve a row over contract changes. The union, Nautilus represents 48 of the ferry company's 70 officers.

Offers Made by Isle of Man Ferry Operator to Resolve Dispute

4th January 2024 Ferry
Ferry operator, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company have put forward several options to resolve an ongoing row over crew contract changes, the firm's boss has said. Managing Director, Brian Thomson said "different" proposals had been made at discussions…
The world’s most powerful sailing cargo ship, Berge Olympus, is part of the IOMSR fleet and where Captain Raja Ray, on right, with Gurpreet Sandhu of Berge Bulk are on board the vessel featuring Four WindWings installed on the Newcastlemax bulker. It is the company’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2025 with use of the cutting-edge technology to reduce fuel and emissions.

World's Most Powerful Sailing Cargo Ship Welcomed to Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) Fleet

3rd January 2024 Isle of Man
The world’s most powerful sailing cargo ship has gone into service under the Isle of Man flag. Berge Olympus, a pionering bulker was officially unveiled in October after its retrofit by Berge Bulk, one of the world’s leading dry bulk…
Royal Daffodil, a former Mersey ferry withdrawn more than a decade ago is to a have a new lease of life as a multi-purpose dining / music event venue, along with a mini-museum in the Wheelhouse to honour the history of the famous ferries. The veteran vessel, almost 62 years, docked at Birkenhead, Wirral Peninsula, is to be relocated to Liverpool’s Canning Dock, part of the Royal Albert Dock. The restoration project, AFLOAT echoes that of MV Cill Airne, the Dublin based venue with similar features, originally served at Cobh as a trans-Atlantic liner tender / later crew training vessel, was designed by the same naval architects of Overchurch, but in 1999 was renamed after major works.

New ‘Unique Attraction’ As Former Mersey Ferry Set for £2.5m Transformation Project

3rd January 2024 Historic Boats
As news of a new Mersey ferry to be built in 60 years was announced recently, a former such historic ferry is to receive a £2.5m project to transform the MV Royal Daffodil into a major destination set for completion…
A Manx politician, says it's time the (IOM) government took action in the dispute between the Isle of Steam Packet and the seafarers’ trade union, Nautilus. Afloat adds, that the Government in 2018 acquired the ferry operator which introduced last year the newbuild flagship, Manxman.

Manx Government Needs to Be 'Taking Serious Action' Regarding Dispute at Isle of Man Steam Packet

3rd January 2024 Ferry
A Member of the House of Keys (MHK) has said that the ongoing ferry dispute at the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPCo) is a serious issue that needs to be examined by the Manx Government. The MHK, Jason…
Former flagship, Ben-My-Chree following repairs returned to Isle of Man yesterday (30 December). The ropax is seen at Douglas with fellow fleetmates of the Isle of Man Steam Packet, before introduction of replacement flagship, Manxman which at time of writing today, (31 December) is making a notable Belfast-Douglas sailing, as routinely the newbuild runs the main island life-line link to Heysham. As for fast-ferry, Manannan, Afloat also today tracked the craft in winter layover mode whilst on Merseyside.

Former Flagship Ben-My-Chree Returns to Isle of Man As Successor Sails on Seasonal Belfast Crossings

31st December 2023 Ferry
Former Isle of Man Steam Packet Company flagship, Ben-My-Chree has returned to its homeport yesterday (30 December) following repairs. As ManxRadio reported, Ben-My-Chree had spent some time on Merseyside (Cammell Laird, Birkenhead) where dry-docking took place to enable repairs made…
Container giant Maersk had diverted 26 of its own ships around the Cape of Good Hope in the last 10 days or so, while only 5 more were scheduled to start the same journey according to detailed breakdown by Reuters.

Container Giant Maersk to Send Almost all Ships via Suez Canal as Schedule Shows

28th December 2023 Ports & Shipping
Container shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk has diverted 26 of its own vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in the last 10 days or so, while only 5 more were scheduled to start the same journey according to detailed breakdown…
Belfast based Harland & Wolff Group, which plan to introduce their own passenger service to the Isle of Scilly next year, however recently were able to secure a freight-only vessel, as existing operator, ISSG’s freighter Gry Maritha, as captured by AFLOAT earlier this year in Penzance. The cargo ship had engine failure in the lead up to the busy period of delivering supplies for Christmas.

Harland & Wolff Backed Rival to Isles of Scilly Ferry Firm Steps in to 'Save Christmas' Supplies

27th December 2023 Ferry
Off England’s southwest coast is where a ferry war between operators, one running and the other hoping to run passenger and freight services between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has been heating up in the run-up to Christmas. The…
Manx politician Michelle Haywood has described the termination notice to ferry officers as 'abhorrent behaviour'

Manx Politician Says Ferry Operators’ Board 'Should be Thoroughly Ashamed of Themselves'

27th December 2023 Ferry
A Member of the House Keys (MHK) has joined several other politicians in voicing concerns regarding Isle of Man Steam Packet officers that were served with notice of termination on Friday evening (22 Dec), describing it as 'abhorrent behaviour'. Seafarers’…
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