#Ports&Shipping –The first IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review for 2014 includes the following stories as detailed below.

Container Market: Asia-Europe rates increase as GRIs take effect. Freight rates on the front haul Asia-Europe container shipping route reached a 17-month high last week, as reported by Lloyd's List. The SCFI index for Shanghai to Northern Europe recorded a 16.8% increase across the week, closing at $1,765.

Bulk Markets: Prospects for 2014 - An improved balance between supply and demand in the shipping industry will result in better overall freight rates in the coming 12 months, according to forecasts made by RHB Research.

Regulation: Shippers air EU emission regulation concerns-The World Shipping Council has spoken out against EU proposals for monitoring and reporting on ships' carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 1). In addition to Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where the Cork Port Authority proposes to take-over the Bantry Harbour Board on 1 January 2014.

Irish Ferries chartered ro-pax ferry Cartour Epsilon made her commercial maiden voyage between Holyhead and Dublin Port.

Storms force winds and gales disrupted Christmas travel plans as ferry services mostly operated by fast-craft were cancelled on Irish Sea routes.

Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD announced the publication of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013 to enhance maritime legislative and safety of maritime transport.

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

Container Market: Brussels launches anti-trust probe-The European Commission launched a formal investigation into concerns that the pricing practices of a number of major box lines showed possible collusion. The Financial Times reported that the basis for the investigation has been the public announcement by container shipping companies of future price increase intentions –a practice which became the norm following the banning of liner conferences by the EU in 2008.

Intermodal: EU trailer market to grow 10% in 2014 - A new report forecasting the demand for heavy goods trailers in Western Europe up to 2017 has predicted a 'solid recovery' for trailer demand in 2014 on the basis of improving economic data, according to Transport Weekly. The report, produced by consultancy firm Clear International, suggests that the trailer market in Western Europe will grow by 10%, with several countries experiencing growth of over 15%.

Short Sea Market-The European short sea bulk market remained firmer last week, in keeping with the trend of previous weeks. H.C. Shipping & Chartering reported spot tonnage being in short supply as a result of seasonal weather delays and a pick-up in demand which led to rates showing signs of improvement. Growing demand was likely been due to the approaching month-end and preparations being made to stock inventories for the coming holiday season.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 47). In addition to Afloat.ie dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#RosslarePort - RTÉ News reports that two men are due before a special sitting of Wexford District Court this morning (Sunday 5 May) on drug smuggling charges after being stopped on entry at Rosslare Europort.

The Lithuanian men were stopped in their van as is drove off a ferry from France at Rosslare on Friday after customs drug dog Ralph indicated the presence of drugs in the vehicle, according to The Irish Times.

Upon search, customs officers discovered a haul of heroin and amphetamines with a street value of some €190,000 - along with a cache of steroids, tobacco and alcohol.

As The Daily Edge reports, Ralph the sniffer dog has been with Revenue's Customs Service since last summer working the Rosslare entry port, where he has previously sniffed out more than €300,000 worth of cannabis resin.

#Shipping - The latest Weekly Shipping Market Review from the Irish Marine Development Office (IMDO) reports of a strong rise in earnings in the tanker market despite a reduction in activity for December 2012.

Demand for VLCC and Aframax tankers in the Arabian Gulf experiences the steepest decline, of 37% and 45% respectively - though the market as a whole was still able to finish above the two-year average.

The dry-bulk market is also expected to exceed fleet growth in the latter half of this year, with day rate for Panamax class vessels set to increase by 12.5%.

Closer to home, plans are in the works to extend a Finnish scheme to support investment in cleaner shipping in the European Union.

Amendments to the scheme are aimed at stricter rules that will apply to marine fuel when the Sulphur Emission Control Area - comprising the English Channel, North Sea and Baltic Sea - comes into force in 2015.

The complete Shipping Markets Review for week 4 is available as a PDF to read or download HERE.

#ArdmoreShipping – The New Year brings changes at Ardmore Shipping, where new promotions have been made for Gerry Docherty and Paul Tivnan.

Gerry Docherty has been promoted to the position of Director of Technical Services, in which his new role is responsible for Fleet Performance Management. He, will manage regular reporting and communication of fleet performance statistics.

In addition, Docherty will combine this new responsibility with his current duties as Technical Superintendent for the Ardmore fleet. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, this will include leading the newbuild team in Saechon, South Korea, where four 50,000DWT product tanker carriers are on order.

Paul Tivnan, has been promoted to the position of Chief Financial Officer. In his new role, Tivnan will have primary responsibility for planning, implementing, managing and controlling all financial-related activities of the Cork based company. In addition to continuing his work with the CEO and COO on strategic and commercial matters.

The cargoship Arklow Rebel (2,999 gross tonnes) which loaded scrap metal in Wicklow Port today, is believed to be the largest Arklow Shipping Ltd vessel to dock in the east coast port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 7-year old Dutch-built vessel arrived in ballast from Warrenpoint Co. Down around 01.30hrs to berth alongside the town's south quays at the Packet Quay.

Throughout this afternoon there was a steady stream of lorries laden with the scrap-metal which was loaded into the ship's hull by a quayside grabber. Upon completion of loading, the distinctive green hulled Arklow Rebel departed this evening bound for Liverpool.

She is one of nine 'R'class series of ships built by the Dutch shipyard of Barkmeijer Stroobos B.V. and has the following dimensions (90m length X 12m breath X 4m draft). For further vessel characteristics click HERE.

The Irish-flagged vessel is registered at the neighbouring port of Arklow to the south and is part of a fleet of over 40 ships managed by the Tyrrell family.

During the boom years Wicklow port was particularly busy with Scandinavian imports of bundled packaged timber and plasterboard for the construction industry.

The tidal port at the mouth of the River Leitrim also specialises in paper, lead, steel and dry bulk cargoes, principally coal in addition to other general and heavy-lift project cargoes.

For many years the issue of road traffic congestion was finally solved when the Wicklow Port Access and Town Relief Road Scheme was completed in April of last year.

The port access road (1.6km) runs between the Rathnew Road to The Murrough via a bridge that crosses the Broadlough Estuary and over the Dublin-Rosslare railway line.