#SeaRailFreight- A year has passed since Afloat.ie reported on the revival of container rail-freight services between Waterford Port and Ballina, to link in with DFDS Logistics sailing schedules to Europe.

According to multimodal.org.uk which has more on this, since the re-launch in early March last year of the DFDS Logistics liner trains between Ballina rail freight terminal and Belview Port at the Waterford of Port (onward shipping to Rotterdam) the service has moved over 2,500 containers.

The service, operating twice weekly in both directions, departure from Ballina at 11:05 on Tuesdays and Fridays and from Port of Waterford at 11:30 on Mondays and Thursdays.

#Cattleships – The Ireland-Libya serving livestock-carrier Atlantic M departed Belview, Waterford today and is understood to be bound for the North African state's port of Misrata, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As reported today, a sistership, Express 1 which in February encountered engine-failure in the English Channel and was towed to the Cornish port of Fowey is expected this week to depart.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, she had been detained by the UK's Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) which carried out last week 'post-repair' trails following repairs and safety inspections, though some issues remained before her pending release.

Both former vehicle-carriers were converted for the transportation of livestock and Express 1 became the first vessel to revive live-animal exports since the trade to Libya ended in 1996 after the banning of beef imports from the EU due to the outbreak of (BSE) mad cow disease.

Altantic M had docked last week to Belview and in recent days had been at anchorage off Dunmore East. Today she heads for the same Libyan port of call to Misrata, where Express 1 had reached on completion of her inaugural voyage last year.

On that occasion, while inbound to Belview to load the cattle, she was renamed during her Irish port of call from Al Mahmoud Express. As for Atlantic M, she was formerly the similar named Al Express Orient.

#Cattleships – The livestock vessel Express 1, which was detained in Fowey for five weeks to undergo urgent maintenance is likely to leave the port this week, writes This Is Cornwall.

The vessel has remained in Fowey since early February after concerns were raised about the state of the ship, including the "appalling" living conditions for the crew. In February, the vessel was towed into the port after it suffered engine failure off the Lizard.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) inspected the 7,000-tonne ship shortly after its arrival and slapped its owners with a detention notice – meaning it couldn't depart until necessary improvements were made.

The vessel which was bound for Waterford, was due to depart last Friday and as previouly reported on Afloat.ie, for only for the MCA to decide it still wasn't ready. For more on this story, click HERE.

#Ports&Shipping –The latest IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review includes the following stories as detailed below.

Container Market: Asia-Europe trade increases 8% in January - Volumes on the main Asia-Europe trade lane began 2014 strongly, increasing 8% in January compared with the corresponding period last year, according to figures from Container Trade Statistics (CTS). Lloyd's
List reported that these figures, corresponding to an increase from 1.3mn teu to 1.4mn teu, marked the largest volume improvement on the trade lane since August last year when volumes rose 10%.

Cruise Market: Record voyages by European passengers - Last year saw a record 6.35 million European passengers undertake cruise voyages (a quarter of which were from the UK) marking a year-on-year increase of 4%, according to figures released by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

Regulation: EU seek maritime security strategy - The European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy recently adopted a joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council "For an open and secure global maritime domain: elements for a European Union maritime security strategy"

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 11). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

The EP key players on this proposal are stressing that they are willing to take up the work again after the elections and express the wish that the newly elected Transport Committee takes stock of the progress made so far on this file and continues the work.

"We understand that achieving a good compromise on such a controversial file in such a short time frame, especially in the run-up to the European elections is not an easy job. We are pleased that there is a clear will from the main players on this file to continue the work after the elections, away from any electoral pressure." said European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO) Secretary General, Isabelle Ryckbost in a reaction to the postponement.

She added "We are looking forward to continue the constructive dialogue with the Parliament, Commission and Council in view of obtaining a balanced result that means a step forward for every single port in Europe".

#ShipsRudder- A containership Arslan II (1991/3,125grt) that is understood to have got into difficulties involving her rudder off Arklow Bank in January, and has since remained in a Dublin Port for almost two months, is scheduled to depart today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, following the incident off Arklow Bank, the German-owned vessel was initially assisted by a single tug. When the tow had reached Dublin Bay a Dublin Port Co tug joined in to assist operations of the 260TEU container capacity vessel into port.

In February, the Arsalan II was moved into the No.2 dry-dock facility of Dublin Graving Docks Ltd.

A report of the incident off Arklow Bank is currently undergoing an investigation by the (MCIB) Marine Casualty Investigation Board. In recent days the 86m long vessel vacated the dry-dock to a nearby berth within Alexandra Basin from where she is to set sail.

#UnionRMT – The BBC reports that the union leader of the Rail and National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), Bob Crow has died at the age of 52 of a suspected heart attack.

Leading the RMT from 2002, Mr Crow became one of Britain's most high-profile union leaders.

Union, industry and political figures have been paying tribute to him.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, who often clashed with him, said Mr Crow had "fought tirelessly" for his members. Labour's Ed Miliband said he had been a "passionate" campaigner.

The prime minister's official spokesman said David Cameron offered his sincere condolences to Mr Crow's family and friends.

And Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said Mr Crow had been a "fighter and a force".

To read much more on this story, click this link.

#ShortSea14 – This year's ShortSea European conference will take place in the Portugese capital of Lisbon (12-13 May), and follows previous conferences held in Paris 2013 and Dublin the proceeding year.

It will be supported by the Shortsea Promotion Centres from the Maritime Member States of the EU, and the conference will be an ideal opportunity to keep up to date in developments and trends.

In addition the venue is where you can meet your peers and to network in the industry.

For further information, click to download conference programme.

#Ports&Shipping –The latest IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review includes the following stories as detailed below.

Container Market: Carrier reliability declines once again - Global containership schedule reliability, the proportion of ships that arrive into port on time, decreased 3.5% in January to a new record low of 70%, compared to 73.5% in December 2013, according to SeaIntel's latest Global Liner Performance Report.

Technology: Batteries as alternative power source - Using batteries as a significant alternative power source for short-sea shipping has been forecast by Remi Eriksen, executive vice president and COO of classification society DNV GL.

Sulphur Emissions: Need for Europe wide enforcement controls  - New sulphur regulations in Emission Control Areas (ECAs) arrive in January 2015 and European authorities have been considering methods of enforcement. The new regulations stipulate ship's fuel must contain less than 0.1% sulphur by weight in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel.

Infrastructure: Panama Canal delay  - With construction on the Panama Canal about to restart once again after the latest cost dispute, the completion and commercial opening date has been extended to the first quarter of 2016, three months later than planned according to Lloyds List. The project, already running eight months behind schedule due earlier problem over the type of concrete used, is now a total of 11 months behind.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 10). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#GreenNewbuild - Arklow Bay was launched by a Dutch shipyard on Friday, she is the second newbuild of six 'B'class 4,800dwt multi-purpose cargoships on order to Arklow Shipping Ltd, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The amidships or sideways launch of the vessel was carried out at Ferus Smit's second shipyard outside, Germany, at Westerbroek in the Netherlands. The 119m long leadship follows leadship Arklow Bank which was launched in January.

Next month the newbuild is due to be delivered to ASL's Dutch division Arklow Shipping N.V. based in Rotterdam from where she will be registered.

She has a slender hull form to optimise her 'green' credentials and a 'bulb-less' principle, where Arklow Bay will give better performance while not compromising on load capacity.

The design is a bulk oriented general cargo ship that will be mainly employed in the shipment of wheat, corn and other bulk commodities in European waters.