Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

One of the ferry companies that services the Blasket Islands is up for sale, as RTÉ Nuacht reports. Bádóirí an Bhlascaoid Teo operates a 48-passenger ferry between the island of Great Blasket and Dunquin in Co Kerry and is the longest…

Basking sharks and critically endangered skates were among the more than 30 tonnes of threatened fish species discarded by Irish fishing vessels in 2019. The “shocking” figure is reported in a new investigation from TheJournal.ie’s Noteworthy strand, which looks into…

The crew of a Dutch cargo vessel were rescued by helicopter as their ship developed a heavy list in the Norwegian Sea late on Monday (5 April). Now there are concerns that the Eemslift Hendrika, which remains adrift with its…

Viewers in Ireland have another chance to catch a fascinating documentary on a unique expedition to the Arctic Circle tracing the origins of Ireland’s annual humpback whale visitors. Broadcast yesterday evening on RTÉ One, Ireland to Iceland - On the…

TheJournal.ie reports that a man in his 20s has died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea off Howth yesterday afternoon, Friday 2 April. Howth Coast Guard Rescue and Howth RNLI were tasked to the scene at the…

The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport reminds seafarers of the important of passage planning and regular weather forecast checks during voyages. It comes following the recommendations in the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report into the rescue…

Canal-boat restaurant operators on the Grand Canal in Dublin have spoken out after they were banned from providing takeaway meals amid the current pandemic restrictions. According to The Irish Times, at least one eatery is out of pocket by thousands…

Northern Ireland surfing pro Al Mennie was among the volunteers who joined fire fighters battling a gorse blaze on Castlerock Beach in Co Derry last night (Tuesday 30 March). As the Belfast Telegraph reports, 40-year-old Mennie was out catching the…

The Department of Transport has launched a public consultation on matters relating to an independent review of the current organisational structures underpinning marine casualty investigation in Ireland. The move follows Transport Minister Eamon Ryan’s promise earlier this year to undertake…

Two ex-presidents of the UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) have been tasked with carrying out a study on the feasibility of an Irish Sea crossing between Britain and Northern Ireland. As industry publication New Civil Engineer reports, Douglas Oakervee…

An exhausted Arctic walrus spotted at Valentia Island last weekend is now apparently in Wales and recovered from its ordeal. According to RTÉ News, marine wildlife conservation groups both here and in Wales are confident that the walrus sighted yesterday…

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has warned the public to stay away from the final resting place of a humpback whale carcass that washed ashore in West Cork last month. And according to the Southern Star, poor weather…

The Loughs Agency has highlighted £12,000 of habitat enhancements works on the Drumragh River catchment in Co Tyrone throughout 2020. The Drumragh catchment comprises a series of branching river systems such as the Seskinore River, Routing Burn, Quiggery River and…

Demand for boats and other watercraft has grown during COVID-19 restrictions in the UK, according to industry body British Marine. The rebound last summer — following a dramatic 40% sales slump between March and May 2020 as the first lockdowns…

Small blue balls found on a North Dublin beach have prompted concerns around their origin and whether they pose a threat to a protected habitat, as the Irish Times reports. Brian Bolger — who lives near Bull Island — says…

Additional funding for a long-proposed National Surf Centre of Excellence in Strandhill has been welcomed, as the Sligo Champion reports. Fáilte Ireland has approved an additional grant of €321,468 for the project in a move hailed as positive news for…

A child has been airlifted to hospital in Liverpool from a ferry in the Irish Sea after what’s been described as a “serious medical emergency”. The Irish Mirror reports on the incident in the early hours of yesterday (Wednesday 17…

P&O Cruises says British passengers on two of its cruise liners this summer will need be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before joining any voyage. According to Marine Industry News, it is the cruise line’s “strong expressed preference” that British guests…

Some lucky passers-by were treated to the extraordinary sight of an Arctic walrus on rocks at Valentia Island in Co Kerry yesterday, Sunday 14 March. Video of the marine wildlife — which resembles a large seal but for its obvious…

A Co Laois barge hire company is seeking tenders to build a new passenger vessel for use on the inland waterways. Barrowline Cruisers in Vicarstown wants to commission and fit out a 46ft passenger barge or boat with a capacity…