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Displaying items by tag: ABR Project

Dublin Port welcomed the arrival of new port infrastructure in the form of a linkspan which was transported by a supporting barge structure from the Netherlands last month, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The new linkspan (No. 7) will form part of the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project (ABR) at Dublin Port. The ABR where works are ongoing, represents the first major phase in the capital development project of the port's Masterplan 2040.

DPC awarded a contract for its constuction to Ravestein BV. The inland yard based in Deest is from where the linkspan was towed intially upriver (Waal) to the Port of Rotterdam.

In the second stage of the linkspan's delivery voyage, this involved the tug Noordstroom take over towing operations at Europe's largest port. Before the project cargo reached the open sea, the linkspan passed the Hoek van Holland (see photo above). The ferryport which is located close to the North Sea is also on the banks of the New Waterway (Nieuwe Waterweg) which connects to the Port of Rotterdam.

Also seen above at the Hoek van Holland is the Stena Britannica (at 64, 039grt, is ranked the world's 4th largest ferry). The giant ferry was berthed at a linkspan of the Dutch port which connects Harwich in UK as Afloat previously reported in the run up to Brexit.

A linkspan is a structure used to facilitate ro-ro traffic movement from a berthed vessel (via the bow or stern door ramps) to embark or dismembark vehicles ashore.

In the case of linkspan No. 7, Dublin Port plan to position the structure at the new Cross Berth Quay (Berth 26) as a bankseat within the ABR. Vessels that will use this new linkspan (ro-ro jetty which was shortlisted for an engineering award) will berth on to the south side of this new facility located in the centre of the basin.

Published in Dublin Port

#Concentrates – It is pleasing to concentrate on an Irish based ship management company that otherwise is not widely documented in mainstream media, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Cathma, a multipurpose dry-cargo carrier with an Ice Class (1A) certification was tracked by Afloat to the vessel's berth in Dublin Port this morning. The 100m long cargoship is managed by Corrib Shipping Group. The Dundrum based group also comprises a number of shipowning companies.

The 6000dwt Cathma as previously reported on Afloat’s ‘Cargoship’ focus discharged fertiliser in Foynes last year, belongs to the Group that was established in 1995. As part of the management team role, they are tasked to employ professional officers and crew to man its vessels.

Cathma is flagged in Curacao, a Dutch island in the Caribbean, is docked in Alexandra Basin along the north side of the 230m Bulk loading jetty. The facility completed in 1967 is served by rail-wagons laden with lead and ore concentrates from Bolidan Tara Mines in Co. Meath.

The loading facility in Dublin Port, which this year is 50 years old, is to be demolished as part of the port’s Masterplan. This involves phase one of a major €230m Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) project where quayside reconfiguration is underway to accommodate much larger deep drafted ships.

A new bulk-mineral loading facility will be reinstated within the basin.

Corrib Shipping also sail their ships as part of Royal Wagenborg (a Dutch operator of more than 170 ships) that acts as chartering agents for the Irish based group.

In January, Afloat investigated into the details of the 118m Viechtdiep, a 7,200dwt cargoship that was acquired by Corrib to become the group's fifth ship. The vessel was drydocked to emerge as the Dutch flagged Ziltborg operating for Wagenborg.

Published in Dublin Port

#worldlargest - The world's largest ro-ro ferry described as a 'game-changer' is to make a maiden call this week to Dublin Port from Zeebrugge and is to be followed with an introduction on the Rotterdam route, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Landlocked based shipping operator, CLdN ro ro S.A. with headquarters in Luxembourg, is to launch the giant 234m ro-ro freight ferry M.V. Celine with a capacity of 8,000 lane meters on the Ireland-Belgium route. The longer Dutch link will also be served by the giant ship. Beforehand of CLnd/Cobelfret's Dublin operations they had served out of Rosslare Europort until transferring to the capital in 2010.

Such sized ships will play an even bigger role given the reality of a 'post-Brexit' EU when the need to have direct sea-transport links with added capacity between Ireland and continental mainland Europe will become increasingly apparent.

Celine is to dock at Dublin's Ocean Pier in Alexandra Basin East which adjoins the larger basin of the same name from where the single largest redevelopment project in the past 200 years of the port is underway. Also related to the ABR project is the Capital Dredging Programme that began at the weekend with works in the basin along with those in the bay due to be completed by March 2018.

Newcomer Celine draws a maximum depth of 8.1m and this demonstates the requirement for Dublin Port to maintain that the channel approaches meet the demands from this ship and ever increasing larger and deeper draft ships to safely navigate and be accommodated within the port.

One of CLdN Ro Ro ships serving with sister company Cobelfret Ferries on the route linking Zeebrugge, Mazarine, namesake of her class which having reported for Ships Monthly in 2010 (Feb issue) made today a lunchtime arrival to Dublin Port. This 196m ro-ro can carry just 180 trailers, whereas the newbuild will take considerably more with 580. Such trailer traffic will involve a purpose-built ramp linkspan currently under construction in Alexandra Basin in which Afloat will have further to report. 

Asides standard unaccompanied trailers, Celine's capacity caters for tank containers, project cargo, new cars and a capacity for 12 driver accompanied units. The leadship newbuild completed by Hyundai Mipo in Ulsan,South Korea represents a fleet expansion plan for CLdN, with a sistership due in the coming months.

Currently the largest ro-ro vessel using Dublin Port is Stena Line's passenger/vehicle ferry, Stena Adventurer which has a length just shy of 211m. By coincidence the Holyhead serving ship introduced in 2003, was also built by the same Asian shipyard.

As previously reported on Afloat back in early 2016, CLdN also operates an extensive northern European network, had then confirmed two more vessels ordered but through Croatian shipbuilder Uljanik along with an option for a further four ships but with a smaller 5,400 lane metre capacity. 

Published in Dublin Port

#dredging- Dredging works in Dublin Port that began yesterday are to continue to March 2018 which will involve moving loaded material out to sea and dumped in Dublin Bay, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The works are part of the Capital Dredging Programme 2017 that arise from the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) Project which is phase one of the Port's Masterplan 2012-2040 (see first review). The dredging will permit much larger and deeper draft cargoships and cruiseships to enter the port.

Last month concerns were raised by campaigners about the safety of the Dublin Bay porpoise as Dublin Port also undertook routine maintenace dredging that involved dumping material on a site off the Baily Lighthouse, Howth Peninsula. At the time the Journal.ie wrote that the Protect Dublin Bay group said that the area should be protected from waste.

Afloat noted the Belgium flagged Minerva, a trailer suction dredger began carrying out operations yesterday in Dublin Bay, a day later than envisaged.

The 2016 built green hulled dredger operated by New Waves Solutions, a subsidiary of the Dredging, Environmental & Marine Engineering DEME, was working consistently off the Dublin Bay bouy, located in the centre of the bay.

Dublin Port Company was granted a license Foreshore Consent by the Department of Housing, Planning Community & Local Government and a Dumping at Sea Permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).. The dumping of dredged material for this particular programme is described in an area as Outer Dublin Bay which is subject to conditions.

Under the terms of the EPA's Dumping at Sea Under permit, a maximum of 8,760,000 tonnes of dredged material may be loaded and dumped at sea up until and including 31 March 2021.

For much much information on the dredging works including documents on the Dumping at Sea permit (S0024-01) and A Notice to Mariners click here.

In addition if you have any concerns Dublin Port Company have issued contact details with respect to the Capital Dredging Programme. They can be contacted during normal business hours by asking for Charlie Murphy or Eamon McElroy by calling 01 887 6000 ; or by post to Dublin Port  Centre, Alexandra Road, Dublin 1; or email: [email protected]

Alternatively concerns can be raised by contacting the Office of Environmental Enforcement Agency, EPA see website and for contact information from this link.
 

 

Published in Dredging

#ABRnotices - As part Dublin Port's Alexandra Basin Regeneration ABR Project, the existing Lead in Jetty located outside Graving Dock Number 2 that closed in February, is to be demolished.

Afloat adds tallship Jeanie Johnston made history as the last dry-docked vessel that also used the jetty following the closure of the unique facility in the capital.

It is expected that the works of Notice to Mariners No. 19 at the Jetty will take place from the 20th March 2017 to the 31st October 2017. (Circa 7 months’ duration)

The works consist generally of the demolition of an existing Lead in Jetty located at the entrance to the existing Graving Dock No. 2. It is required to demolish the existing lead in Jetty in order to provide access to future Berths No. 27 and No. 28 to the North West corner of the Alexandra Basin.

The Lead in Jetty is 120m long x 10m wide x 10m deep and is constructed of concrete caissons filled with gravel.

The following Vessels will be utilized for the demolition works to the Lead in Jetty:
1. 14 CD Spud Leg Dredger “Aoibheann”.
2. 25 TBP Single Screw Tugboat “M.T. Gargal”
3. Work Pontoon “Sandfisher”.

All craft will monitor Channel 12 continuously and show the required lights and shapes. All vessels should pass at slow speed and make due allowance for this operation.

VTS will keep all vessels updated and advised of any relevant information.

Further information on the ABR project can be found by clicking on the following link: http://dublinportabr.ie/

All Notice to Mariners among them further related ABR project developments are outlined below with links to open and download in PDF format.

No. 20 of 2017 New Quay Wall Works - Alexandra Quay West/Ocean Pier, Berths 31/32 click here 

No. 21 of 2017 New Quay Wall Works - Alexandra Quay West, Berth 28 click here

For other Notice to Mariners they can be consulted here

Published in Dublin Port

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) - FAQS

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are geographically defined maritime areas where human activities are managed to protect important natural or cultural resources. In addition to conserving marine species and habitats, MPAs can support maritime economic activity and reduce the effects of climate change and ocean acidification.

MPAs can be found across a range of marine habitats, from the open ocean to coastal areas, intertidal zones, bays and estuaries. Marine protected areas are defined areas where human activities are managed to protect important natural or cultural resources.

The world's first MPA is said to have been the Fort Jefferson National Monument in Florida, North America, which covered 18,850 hectares of sea and 35 hectares of coastal land. This location was designated in 1935, but the main drive for MPAs came much later. The current global movement can be traced to the first World Congress on National Parks in 1962, and initiation in 1976 of a process to deliver exclusive rights to sovereign states over waters up to 200 nautical miles out then began to provide new focus

The Rio ‘Earth Summit’ on climate change in 1992 saw a global MPA area target of 10% by the 2010 deadline. When this was not met, an “Aichi target 11” was set requiring 10% coverage by 2020. There has been repeated efforts since then to tighten up MPA requirements.

Marae Moana is a multiple-use marine protected area created on July 13th 2017 by the government of the Cook islands in the south Pacific, north- east of New Zealand. The area extends across over 1.9 million square kilometres. However, In September 2019, Jacqueline Evans, a prominent marine biologist and Goldman environmental award winner who was openly critical of the government's plans for seabed mining, was replaced as director of the park by the Cook Islands prime minister’s office. The move attracted local media criticism, as Evans was responsible for developing the Marae Moana policy and the Marae Moana Act, She had worked on raising funding for the park, expanding policy and regulations and developing a plan that designates permitted areas for industrial activities.

Criteria for identifying and selecting MPAs depends on the overall objective or direction of the programme identified by the coastal state. For example, if the objective is to safeguard ecological habitats, the criteria will emphasise habitat diversity and the unique nature of the particular area.

Permanence of MPAs can vary internationally. Some are established under legislative action or under a different regulatory mechanism to exist permanently into the future. Others are intended to last only a few months or years.

Yes, Ireland has MPA cover in about 2.13 per cent of our waters. Although much of Ireland’s marine environment is regarded as in “generally good condition”, according to an expert group report for Government published in January 2021, it says that biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are of “wide concern due to increasing pressures such as overexploitation, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change”.

The Government has set a target of 30 per cent MPA coverage by 2030, and moves are already being made in that direction. However, environmentalists are dubious, pointing out that a previous target of ten per cent by 2020 was not met.

Conservation and sustainable management of the marine environment has been mandated by a number of international agreements and legal obligations, as an expert group report to government has pointed out. There are specific requirements for area-based protection in the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the OSPAR Convention, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Yes, the Marine Strategy Framework directive (2008/56/EC) required member states to put measures in place to achieve or maintain good environmental status in their waters by 2020. Under the directive a coherent and representative network of MPAs had to be created by 2016.

Ireland was about halfway up the EU table in designating protected areas under existing habitats and bird directives in a comparison published by the European Commission in 2009. However, the Fair Seas campaign, an environmental coalition formed in 2022, points out that Ireland is “lagging behind “ even our closest neighbours, such as Scotland which has 37 per cent. The Fair Seas campaign wants at least 10 per cent of Irish waters to be designated as “fully protected” by 2025, and “at least” 30 per cent by 2030.

Nearly a quarter of Britain’s territorial waters are covered by MPAs, set up to protect vital ecosystems and species. However, a conservation NGO, Oceana, said that analysis of fishing vessel tracking data published in The Guardian in October 2020 found that more than 97% of British MPAs created to safeguard ocean habitats, are being dredged and bottom trawled. 

There’s the rub. Currently, there is no definition of an MPA in Irish law, and environment protections under the Wildlife Acts only apply to the foreshore.

Current protection in marine areas beyond 12 nautical miles is limited to measures taken under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives or the OSPAR Convention. This means that habitats and species that are not listed in the EU Directives, but which may be locally, nationally or internationally important, cannot currently be afforded the necessary protection

Yes. In late March 2022, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said that the Government had begun developing “stand-alone legislation” to enable identification, designation and management of MPAs to meet Ireland’s national and international commitments.

Yes. Environmental groups are not happy, as they have pointed out that legislation on marine planning took precedence over legislation on MPAs, due to the push to develop offshore renewable energy.

No, but some activities may be banned or restricted. Extraction is the main activity affected as in oil and gas activities; mining; dumping; and bottom trawling

The Government’s expert group report noted that MPA designations are likely to have the greatest influence on the “capture fisheries, marine tourism and aquaculture sectors”. It said research suggests that the net impacts on fisheries could ultimately be either positive or negative and will depend on the type of fishery involved and a wide array of other factors.

The same report noted that marine tourism and recreation sector can substantially benefit from MPA designation. However, it said that the “magnitude of the benefits” will depend to a large extent on the location of the MPA sites within the network and the management measures put in place.

© Afloat 2022

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