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.

The proposed newbuild Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) will require a bigger crew than the P60 class vessels the navy currently operates, such as the LÉ James Joyce, which Afloat adds was in attendance off Bray, Co. Wicklow during the recently held Bray Air Display.

Government to Pursue New €200m Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) Project

10th August 2023 Navy

It is looking likely that the Government is to seek expressions of interest from international shipbuilders before the end of the year, for the construction for the Naval Service of a €200m-plus multi-role-vessel (MRV). The MRV as the name suggests, is…

Newbuild flagship ferry, Manxman ‘dressed overall’ to mark its official welcoming ceremony in Douglas Harbour last month, is to make its maiden voyage to Heysham next week.

New Flagship Manxman's Maiden Voyage Is Confirmed for Next Week

10th August 2023 Ferry

A new flagship ferry of the Isle of Man Steamship Company which is the biggest in the history of the operator is to make its maiden voyage next week. The £76m newbuild Manxman is due to make its first passenger…

A new company in Scotland is where Harland & Wolff Technologies will service the UK’s energy capital – Aberdeen, focusing on batteries, future fuels, propulsion and system integration, whilst servicing operational assets in the North Sea.

Harland & Wolff Opens New Subsidiary in UK's Energy Capital of Aberdeen

9th August 2023 Shipyards

Shipyard group Harland & Wolff has opened a new company in Scotland which will service the thriving energy sector in the UK’s energy capital, Aberdeen on the North Sea. The new subsidiary company, Harland & Wolff Technologies will focus on…

Pembroke Dock Redevelopment Works Pave the Way for Low Carbon Future

9th August 2023 Ports & Shipping

In south Wales is where significant progress at Pembroke Dock is being made to create a multi-purpose and future energy-ready port in Pembrokeshire that will create a bright and prosperous outlook for current and future generations. Physical works on the…

Making an entrance: Poland’s oldest sail training vessel STS Kapitan Borchardt built in 1918, is currently on a visit to Dublin ‘Docklands’ with its very own ‘floating choir’ of male singers performing sea shanty songs on deck to the quayside public.

Polish Tallship With ‘Floating’ Sea Shanty Choir Visits Dublin 'Docklands'

5th August 2023 Tall Ships

A Polish flagged tallship which arrived into Dublin Port yesterday evening had also its own Sea Shanty choir on board, writes Jehan Ashmore. The sail training ship, STS Kapitan Borchardt of the Polish Scouting Association once a year, brings the…

Manxman, the new Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. flagship ferry which sailed from Douglas, Afloat adds on Wednesday, 2 August made its first call to Belfast Harbour to conduct berthing trials at Albert Quay which took about an hour. The hybrid diesel-electric powered ferry under the Command of NI native, Captain Jonathan Palmer was presented with a commemorative plaque to mark the vessel’s inaugural call to Belfast Harbour.

Flagship Ferry Manxman's Maiden Voyage Just "Weeks Rather than Months" Away

5th August 2023 Ferry

Manxman, the new 24,161 gross tonnage flagship ferry which was built in an Asian shipyard for the Isle of Man Steam Company, has said that they "won't rush" to have things ready. The first passenger sailing on the Douglas-Heysham route…

LISW23: Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales, the Channel Islands is to bring their THV Galatea into the Pool of London during London International Shipping Week (LISW23) the ‘must attend’ global shipping event held between 11-15 September. The multi-function buoy tender will served as a venue for a number of events for industry, government and to showcase maritime training and careers.

Trinity House to Bring Buoy Tender As Part of London International Shipping Week (LISW) in September

4th August 2023 Lighthouses

Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for England, Wales and Channel Islands, has signed up to join London International Shipping Week 2023 (11-15 September). The GLA's multi-function buoy tender THV Galatea is to visit the Pool of London where…

Bad weather on the Firth of Clyde, as the Arran route saw widespread disruption to ferries coupled with restricted berthing facilities at Ardrossan which had a knock on effect at Troon, forcing the MV Hebridean Isles to head for Ayr. In addition due to technical problems, the veteran vessel which normally serves Islay from Kennacraig, Mull of Kintyre (as above) hasn't been able to operate for almost six months.

Bad Weather on Firth of Clyde Sees CalMac's MV Hebridean Isles Forced to Relocate to Ayr

3rd August 2023 Ferry

On the Firth of Clyde a Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) ferry which has been plagued by technical problems for almost six months, has been seen at a berth in Ayr harbour. The port of Ayr, operated by Associated British Ports is…

Work has begun at Harland & Wolff's Group main shipyard in Belfast to prepare for the arrival of a large vessel for fit-out later this year. Above a scene from 2020 when a trio of Viking Cruises vessels were at the shipyard, with the Viking Sun occupying Belfast Dry-Dock while berthed at the fit-out quay were Viking Sea and Viking Sky.

Harland & Wolff Group's Belfast Shipyard Lands Potential £70m Contract to Upgrade Large Vessel

2nd August 2023 Shipyards

The shipyard firm of Harland & Wolff Group which has its largest facility in Belfast, has landed another significant fit-out, reports The Irish News, with a contract that is worth up to £70 million. The Group, which also has yard's…

Wilson ASA, a leading European short-sea shipping operator, announced a major newbuilding order for six 3,800dwt future-proof cargo ships with a focus on environmental benefits. In addition, the Norwegian operator also declared an option for a further eight vessels, totalling the order to 14 vessels. Wilson vessels are often in Irish waters, AFLOAT adds among them Wilson Bremen currently at Dinish Island’s (€40n deepwater quay built in 2011) opposite of Castletownbere, Co. Cork, Ireland's largest white fish port. The 3,932dwt cargo ship had sailed from Bildudalur, Iceland to Dinish where there are fishery plants. Wilson Bremen is next to head along the Atlantic seaboard with a call tomorrow, 2 Aug to the Port of Galway, trading in limestone.

Fleet Expansion for Wilson ASA as European Short-Sea Operator Order Up to 14 Newbuildings

1st August 2023 Ports & Shipping

Norwegian shipping operator Wilson ASA, a leading European player in the short-sea market, announced the signing of up to 14 newbuildings. The Bergen based shipping company's latest chartered in Hanse Eco-Trader as Afloat reported last week, has also signed for…

Crew line the decks of L.É. William Butler Yeats upon return to the Naval Service base in Cork Harbour following a deployment in the Mediterranean

L.É. William Butler Yeats Returns Following Deployment in Mediterranean off Libya

31st July 2023 Navy

A Naval Service offshore patrol vessel (OPV) which was on a six-week deployment in the Mediterranean Sea to enforce a UN embargo on arms shipments to Libya has returned to Cork Harbour. The deployment of L.É. William Butler Yeats in…

Captain Victoria Bolitho on the bridge wing of Scillonian III while underway on a passage from Penzance Harbour to Hugh Town, St. Mary's, the largest of the five inhabited Isles of Scilly off Cornwall. This is the Captain's first command of a ship in a seafaring career that had included working on the Irish Sea ferry the Stena Europe which recently was replaced on the Rosslare-Fishguard route, which is currently also in the south-west of England at A&P Falmouth, the dry-dock, refit and ship-repair facility.

Captain Victoria Bolitho: First Female Master of Isles of Scilly Steamship Company

30th July 2023 Ferry

Afloat's Jehan Ashmore travelled on M.V. Scillonian III, under the command of Captain Victoria Bolitho, who has the unique honour of being the first female appointed in this ferry role in the 103 year history of the Isles of Scilly…

City officials in Amsterdam are looking to relocate the cruise terminal to outside the city centre and do not plan to outright ban such ships from calling to the popular tourist destination, as some media reports have suggested. Above Azamara Journey berthed at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam facility.

Cruise Industry Association Says Passenger Ships Have Not Been Banned From Dutch Capital

29th July 2023 Cruise Liners

In Amsterdam, a city council moves to 'keep' cruise ships out of the city-centre, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world's largest cruise industry trade association. As Tradewinds reports, Amsterdam is certainly looking to prevent massive sized cruise…

Harland & Wolff Group has welcomed the UK Government's Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme which forms part of the government’s £4 billion plan to support British shipbuilding. Above Afloat highlights the Belfast based group also has smaller newbuild projects such as its first in-house design of a 24m multipurpose 'green' workboat unveiled earlier this year in which the shipyard is marketing the workboat globally.

Harland & Wolff Welcomes UK Government's Scheme to Support British Shipbuilding

28th July 2023 Shipyards

The Harland & Wolff Group which has shipyards on both sides of Irish Sea has welcomed the UK Government's announcement to launch the Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme (SCGS). The scheme is designed to help buyers access finance to buy UK-built vessels…

Scottish Strike: Seafarers, base assistants, cooks and technicians working for the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) have today walked out for a second time after being offered a 2% pay rise. Above strikers exactly a month ago at the first protest in Oban, where AFLOAT adds, in the background is the NLV Pharos an aids to navigation vessel. The NLB is the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) responsible for Scotland's lighthouses and also the Isle of Man.

Scottish Lighthouse Workers Strike for Second Time Amid Pay Dispute

27th July 2023 Lighthouses

In Scotland lighthouse workers today, 27 July, are to take part in a second wave of industrial action in a long-running dispute over pay with the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB). The union UNITE has confirmed that its NLB members will…

CSO figures: Dublin Port accounted for 63% of all vessel arrivals in Irish ports in the first quarter of 2023. Above the easternmost estate of the port where ferry terminals serve the UK and Europe.

CSO Figures Show Irish Ports Handled 11.9m Tonnes of Goods in Q1 this Year

26th July 2023 Irish Ports

Irish Ports according to the Central Statistics Office figures released today show that they handled a total of 11.9 million tonnes of goods in the first quarter of the year. As RTE News reports, this level of goods represented a…

The first All Ireland Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) wants to have faster speeds amd improved frequency in addition new rail routes for people and those for freight. Above passenger-only trains from Dublin at Rosslare Europort (operated by Irish Rail) from where the AISRR recommends reopening the line to Waterford for freight. Also above in the background container lorries parked in the freight area of the Wexford ferryport.

Strategic Rail Review Recommends Hourly Inter-City Trains & Reopening of Port Freight Connections

26th July 2023 News Update

An hourly train service should be operating between major cities and at least one train every two hours between other urban centres, according to a new report that recommends the transformation of the current rail system including port rail freight.…

Flexible Trader: Wilson Flex III of the Hansa Eco class minibulker’s is designed with its 'open-topped' cargo hold of with and without hatch covers, making the 4,282dwt cargo ships suitable for transporting both high and heavy project cargo. Arkon Shipping of Haren Ems, Germany, is one of the big chartering houses in Europe, and where Wilson ASA of Norway have taken on a long-term time charter of the 2022 built vessel.

Europe's Largest Short-Sea Operator Wilson ASA Charters In 'Flexible' Hanse Eco Trader

25th July 2023 Ports & Shipping

Europe's largest short-sea cargoship operator, Wilson ASA of Norway which transport annually about 15 million tonnes in dry cargo across the continent, have chartered in the Wilson Flex III, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 4,282dwt cargo ship built last year is…

Seafarers’ Charter: Dumping loyal seafarers for cheap labour is wrong on many levels. It distorts the market, rewards those who do the wrong thing and morally - well it stinks. That’s why Christophe Mathieu CEO and Brittany Ferries became a founding signatory to a voluntary charter guaranteeing seafarers’ rights in Paris today. Baroness Vere and Hervé Berville, UK and French shipping ministers, were there alongside Stena Line, DFDS and Condor Ferries - all companies committed to raising the bar and refusing to engage in a race to the bottom

Charter Announced by UK Government Is a Historic Boost to Seafarers’ Rights and Welfare

24th July 2023 Ferry

The welfare of thousands of seafarers will be guaranteed fair wages, proper rest periods and suitable training thanks to a new Seafarers’ Charter launched by the UK Government today. Building on government action already taken, the charter – backed by…

In a new eight-part T.V. series, Calmac with the largest ferry fleet in the UK, serving Scotland’s west coast Isles, is to feature in a behind the scenes documentary 'Island Crossings'. Above, MV Caledonian Isles at Ardrossan, where passengers embark for a crossing on the Firth of Clyde route to Brodick, Isle of Arran, which takes just an hour, is the operator's busiest out of 29 routes.

Ferry Operator CalMac - Behind the Scenes Series On Serving Scotland's West Coast Isles & Communities

23rd July 2023 Maritime TV

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) will be the focus of a new fly-on-the-wall T.V. documentary series which will show the work and life aboard their services to Scotand's west coast island communities that it connects. The first of the eight episodes…