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.
Workers at a Merseyside shipyard which built the UK polar research ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough, have voted to strike in a row over pay and conditions. Electricians, pipe-fitters and welders and others at Cammell Laird shipyard on Birkenhead, are…
ShortSea Shipping Conference Bound for Port of Huelva, Spain - 28 November
20th November 2023 Ports & Shipping
The ShortSea Shipping Annual Conference this year is bound for the Port of Huelva, Spain on 28 November, with the conference title of "Short Sea Shipping: Efficiency, Sustainability, and Connectivity in the Service of Maritime and Land Logistics Chains." The…
Ferry crew working for the Isle of Man Steam Packet, BBC News reports are to be balloted on whether they would support strike action in a row over employment conditions. Seafarers who are members of the trade union, Nautilus International…
Twin Newbuild Ferries in Scotland Could be Worth ‘Fraction’ of Cost when Completed, MSPs Told
18th November 2023 Shipyards
Twin newbuild ferries that are delayed and overbudget at a shipyard in Scotland and which are to serve Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) could be worth a “fraction” of the £360m taxpayers have spent on them when they are finally completed, MSPs have…
DFDS Expands Ireland-France Passenger Service of Rosslare-Dunkirk Due to High Demand
17th November 2023 Ferry
DFDS direct Ireland-mainland Europe ferry route of Rosslare-Dunkirk, as from today have special deals available to passengers booking in advance for travel in 2024. The Ireland-France service, offers tourists, with up to 50 cabins available for customers to book on…
Minehunter from the UK’s Royal Navy Sandown-Class Calls to Dublin Port
17th November 2023 Naval Visits
A Sandown-class minehunter of the UK’s Royal Navy, HMS Penzance (M1O6) which departed Oban in west Scotland is on a visit to Dublin Port having arrived this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore. During the week the 500 displacement tonnes HMS Penzance…
Port of Galway Reports 'Record' 2022 – And This Year Is On Track to Deliver Similar or Better Results
17th November 2023 Galway Harbour
The Port of Galway which gave a presentation held at the City Hall this week, has outlined the port’s strong bounce-back following COVID-19. Currently the port has a single dock, however as The Connacht Tribune writes, there are plans in the…
Harland & Wolff Enters Partnership with Austal, Australia to Boost Shipbuilding Business
16th November 2023 Shipyards
Shipbuilder, the Harland & Wolff Group has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Austal, an Australian firm, to aid their pursuit of aluminium shipbuilding opportunities. In Sydney the MOU was signed at the 2023 Indo Pacific Maritime Exposition. The…
Santoña, Brittany Ferries Newest E-Flexer Series Sails to Rosslare Europort on Maiden ‘Irish’ Call
16th November 2023 Brittany Ferries
The third and newest E-Flexer class of Brittany Ferries, Santoña which entered service this year, has made its maiden ‘Irish’ port of call, having completed a crossing from Cherbourg to Rosslare Europort, writes Jehan Ashmore. According to Rosslare Europort, Santoña…
Naval Service crew are to see their allowance payment doubled as the Government has announced such payments will take effect, but only after ten days are spent at sea, reports RTE News. Currently, the Patrol Duty Allowance (PDA) is paid…
Swedish Lake-Based Tanker Owner Which Frequently Call to Dublin Port, Have ‘Resourceful’ Leadship Launched in Leer, Germany
15th November 2023 Shipyards
A newbuild class for a Swedish lake-based shipping operator was launched at Ferus Smit’s shipyard in Leer, Germany, as leadship Thun Resource entered the water last Friday, writes Jehan Ashmore. At the morning launch of Thun Resource, the newbuild became…
Peel Ports Group and Spanish Operator Suardiaz Lines Launch on Merseyside the UK's First Green Automotive Manufacturing Hub
15th November 2023 Ports & Shipping
Across the Irish Sea, Peel Ports Group on Merseyside and Spanish shipping operator, Suardiaz Lines launched a UK-first Green Automotive manufacturing Hub, which will significantly reduce supply chain emissions in the north-west England. The £10 million facility which is the…
Irish Mainport Holdings Purchase Vessel from Shipyard in China for Offshore Wind Survey Sector
15th November 2023 Ports & Shipping
Cork based shipping group, Irish Mainport Holdings have confirmed the purchase of another ship named Mainport Edge following a ceremony held last week at a shipyard in Fujian, China, writes Jehan Ashmore. Afloat.ie contacted Mainport which said that the vessel was 90%…
Dredger Arrives to Port of Waterford following Maintenance Campaigns at UK South Coast Ferry Ports
14th November 2023 Dredging
A dredger was tracked arriving to the Port of Waterford today, following works carried out in UK south coast ferry ports on the English Channel, however this week work is to start along the Waterford Harbour estuary, writes Jehan Ashmore.…
New Appointment at Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) to Further Expand Operations in Northern Europe & Scandinavia
14th November 2023 Isle of Man
A new appointment at The Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) to further expand its presence in northern Europe, has taken place with a business development manager to focus on the region and Scandinavia. Alexander Christensen, who has a wealth…
Stena’s Freight-Ferry ‘Forwarder’ Enters Belfast-Birkenhead (Liverpool) Route
13th November 2023 Stena Line
A newly introduced freight-ferry for Stena Line’s Belfast-Birkenhead (Liverpool) route involved a ro-ro vessel make a maiden overnight crossing on the Irish Sea, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 2,500 freight-lane metres capacity Stena Forwarder arrived in Belfast on 3 November and…
Ropaxs’ Chartered to Irish Ferries to See Epsilon Exit Service While Norbay Debuts on Ireland-France Route
10th November 2023 Irish Ferries
ICG's charter of Epsilon for Irish Ferries which for almost a decade operated Dublin-Holyhead and between the Irish capital and Cherbourg, France, is to complete its final sailing tomorrow, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 165 freight trailer unit / 500 passenger capacity…
Scilly Season Ends, But Islands' Community Meetings Continue on New Vessel Replacement Programme Project
9th November 2023 Ferry
The seasonal Isles of Scilly Steamship ferry service has ended for the year as veteran Scillonian III sailed its last round-trip of Penzance Harbour-Hugh Town, St Mary's, the largest isle of the archipelago off Cornwall, England, writes Jehan Ashmore. The…
North Sea Port Wins European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award 2023
8th November 2023 Ports & Shipping
North Sea Port has won the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award 2023 in recognition of its role in restoring nature in and around the port area to the benefit of the citizens and local community. Following a short-list of…
Relief Ferry CalMac Charter for Extended Six Months Serving Firth of Clyde and Islay
8th November 2023 Ferry
Scotland's west coast ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) have confirmed that the chartered catamaran MV Alfred from Pentland Ferries, will run for a six-month extension. The added timeframe of the charter is to provide additional resources through the winter and…