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.

Former dredger Hebble Sand along Drogheda town’s quays cannot be removed until the 60 year old vessel can be surveyed to ascertain if it meets the required buoyancy standards.

Dredger Needs Survey Before Its Removal in Drogheda - Is Still Uncompleted

3rd December 2023 Drogheda Port

A disused dredger berthed in Drogheda Port at the town's quay for almost a decade, needs to have a survey carried out and be certified for removal, has still yet to be completed. The grab hopper-dredger Hebble Sand built in 1963,…

A new ultra-low emissions version of Wärtsilä’s already efficient 31DF engine, which is applied on one of the four engines of Wasaline’s ropax ferry Aurora Botnia which operates on the Gulf of Botnia between Sweden and Finland as AFLOAT reported previously in ice conditions. The version has helped to further reduce methane emissions by 10 percent on the vessel, which is the world’s most environmentally friendly ropax. 2023 marks 75 years since the predecessors of the current Wasaline started shipping company operations between Umeå, Sweden and Vaasa, Finland.

Partnership between Wärtsilä and Ferry Operator Wasaline Further Reduces Methane Emissions of World’s Most Environmentally Friendly RoPax

1st December 2023 Ferry

Wärtsilä, the technology group has introduced a new ultra-low emissions version of its already efficient Wärtsilä 31DF engine on board a ferry operating in Scandinavia. Whilst operating on LNG, this new version can further reduce methane emissions on a 50…

The managing director of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company says it doesn't expect the newbuild flagship Manxman to be perfect yet, but is confident any issues can be fixed.

Isle of Man Newbuild Flagship Manxman 'Not Expected to be Perfect'

30th November 2023 Ferry

The ferry operator, The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has said it doesn't expect their flagship Manxman to be perfect yet, but its confident any issues can be fixed. The 24,161 gross tonnes newbuild which was built in South…

Belfast Harbour has begun work on a £3m project at City Quays Gardens, the above in an impression of the garden due to be completed in August, 2024. In the background is Belfast Harbour Commissioners' Office and the new City Quays 3 high rise office tower recently built.

Belfast Harbour Project Aims to Gain Landmark “One Planet Living” Accreditation at City Quays Gardens

30th November 2023 Belfast Lough

A Belfast Harbour project costing £3m has commenced work on the City Quays Gardens, which is to be a vibrant new urban garden in the city and is expected to be completed by August 2024. The City Quays Gardens project…

The Mersey Maritime Annual Industry Awards were held in Liverpool, you can watch highlights of the evening, see link below. Among the winners were Maersk, Cruise Liverpool and Svitzer.

Mersey Maritime Awards Celebrate Liverpool City Region Sectors of Industry Excellence

28th November 2023 Ports & Shipping

Mersey Maritime's 9th Annual Industry Awards were hosted at the iconic Liverpool Cathedral, marking a significant highlight in the UK maritime sector’s calendar. More than over 550 distinguished guests (YouTube highlights) on 2nd November from across the United Kingdom and beyond…

To watch the National Historic Ships UK Annual Awards Ceremony (click the link below), where presenters Ash Faire-Ring and Dan Snow reveal the winners of this year's Photography Competition, Marsh Volunteer Awards, the Martyn Heighton Award for Excellence in Maritime Conservation and the ‘Flagships of the Year’ which AFLOAT highlight include the above Belfast based HMS Caroline (YouTube from 17:30 mins) and the former Royal Yacht Britannia, from where the awards were filmed on board the historic vessel in Leith Docks, near Edinburgh.

National Historic Ships UK 2023 Winners Featuring Belfast’s Awarded Flagship HMS Caroline

27th November 2023 Historic Boats

Winners of the National Historic Ships UK 2023 Photography Competition, Marsh Volunteer Awards, and Excellence in Maritime Conservation Award were revealed on Wednesday 22 November, during an Awards Ceremony filmed at The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith Docks, Edinburgh and…

An approach from the Belfast based shipyard group, Harland & Wolff to the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG) have been ‘unequivocally’ rebuffed. In recent years, H&W acquired Devon’s Appledore shipyard, which AFLOAT adds in 1977 built Scillonian III, which has served for 46 years is to be replaced by a newbuild constructed overseas. The passenger seasonal service ended recently, however the ISSG also operate a year-round ‘Skybus’ airplane service to the archipelago.

Shipbuilder Harland and Wolff Bid for Isles of Scilly Ferry Operator Rejected

26th November 2023 Shipyards

The south-west England operator running between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has “unequivocally rejected” a takeover bid from the Belfast based shipbuilder Harland and Wolff (H&W), reports Business Live. Bosses at the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG), which…

Maritime union has warned of a potential industrial action over 'live on board' dispute with the Isle of Man Steam Packet. Above the new flagship Manxman berthed in Douglas Harbour.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Confused as Maritime Union Ballots Members

23rd November 2023 Ferry

Ferry operator, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company believed it had been on the brink of agreement with the trade union Nautilus International, over new conditions for its crew, including on board the flagship Manxman introduced in August. Manxman…

Volume of cars at Irish Ferries, owned by ICG, rose by 12.2% to 588,700 in the year to 18 November. Above the chartered Oscar Wilde serves the Rosslare-Pembroke Dock route, as part of the company’s UK land-bridge routes and Dublin-Cherbourg, directly linking Ireland to mainland Europe.

Irish Ferries Owner, Irish Continental Group Report Lower Revenues So far this Year

23rd November 2023 Irish Ferries

The operator Irish Ferries which is owned by parent company, Irish Continental Group (ICG) has issued a trading statement today which reported of a dip in revenues but increased volumes of passengers and freight levels. The Dublin based ferry, shipping…

Crane-ship, Lara 1 which had carried out work in Dublin Port, is seen recently alongside the Scottish harbour of Uig on the Isle of Skye, which is closed for redevelopment work until next month. Lara 1 is at the ferry pier, where fender brackets were installed to the inner dolphin, however alternative travel options for CalMac customers are in place on other routes.

Heavy-Lift Crane-Ship Works in Scotland for Ferry Infrastructure on Isle of Skye

22nd November 2023 Ferry

A heavy-lift crane-ship which worked in Dublin Port last month at an oil jetty berth as previously reported, is currently carrying out ferry infrastructure upgrade works in Scotland at Uig Harbour on the Isle of Skye, writes Jehan Ashmore. On…

A shipyard on Merseyside is where workers at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, have voted to strike in a row over pay and conditions.

Merseyside Shipyard Workers at Cammell Laird Vote to Strike

21st November 2023 Shipyards

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…

The annual ShortSea Shipping Conference is bound for the Port of HuelvaPort-facebook, Spain- 28 November

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 workers on the new flagship Manxman are to be balloted on whether they would support strike action in a row over employment conditions. The newbuild has facilities for seafarers to live on-board.

Ferry Crew of New Isle of Man Flagship to be Balloted Over Strike Action

18th November 2023 Ferry

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…

$Twin newbuild ferries being built for CalMac’s Arran route on the Forth of Clyde could be worth only a ‘fraction’ of what Scottish taxpayers have spent on their construction, Holyrood was told.$

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…

Passenger service expands on DFDS' Rosslare-Dunkirk route, part of the pan-European ferry company’s extensive network including the Baltic Sea, North Sea, English Channel and the Mediterranean. The enhanced service is operated by the Visentini shipyard built ropax Optima Seaways, which Afloat reported in 2021 in launching the direct Ireland-mainland Europe route against the back-drop of a surge in freight demand due to Brexit.

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…

Sandown class mine-hunter HMS Penzance (M106) named after the seaside town of Penzance in Cornwall, England, is the fourth vessel to bear the name, is visiting Dublin Port this weekend. The mine-hunter is seen on 9 November at Oban, west Scotland from where it departed.

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…

The Port of Galway reported a record year for 2022, and this year is expected likewise, due to a boom in importing wind-turbine components that has kept the western port busy. Above a port caller, Jaguar carries such cargo and is operated by Amasus Shipping B.V. Delfzijl in the Netherlands.

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…

Shipbuilders at Sydney, Australia as H&W Group’s chief executive John Wood, Austal chief Paddy Gregg, chief operating officer Ian McMillan and H&W chief sales officer Oliver Morton attend the 2023 Indo Pacific Maritime Exposition which was held in the coastal city. AFLOAT adds with a display model of Austal’s evolved 58m Lethal Cape Class Patrol boat.

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 cruiseferry as seen at Rosslare Europort having completed its maiden ‘Irish’ port of call from Cherbourg. In addition the newbuild which entered service this year for the French company, is now also operating to Spain but on the ‘temporary’ winter Rosslare-Bilbao route due to infrastructure works at Bilbao.

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…

Due to the ongoing crew crisis, LÉ William Butler Yeats, is one of only two Naval Service patrol vessels currently operational up to the end of this year, with the remaining majority of vessels tied-up in Cork Harbour, however the Government is to double a Patrol Duty Allowance effective of 1st January, 2024 in an effort to get the patrol vessels back to sea.

Naval Service Crew to Have Offshore Allowance Doubled after Ten Days at Sea

16th November 2023 Navy

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…