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Displaying items by tag: First cruisecaller in 20 years

#CruiseRosslare - Afloat’s tracking of known Irish Sea timber-trading cargoships recently led to Rosslare, synonymous for its ferries, is to welcome more business with a first cruise call in more than two decades, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In early July the honour of this inaugural cruise call will go to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Braemar with more than 900 visiting passengers. The  24,344 tonnes vessel is to dock within the harbour and remain in port for up to 12 hours.

Last year Pheonix Reisen's similar capacity cruiseship Albatros which has a deeper draft was scheduled to anchor offshore. The call however was cancelled due to bad weather conditions preventing anchoring and tendering visitors ashore. To read more click here.

The call by Braemar this summer will be more keenly awaited by Rosslare Europort, where the harbour authority is unique for an Irish port in that it is operated by Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann).

In addition the cruise call is to boost the season for businesses notably running visitor attractions in the ‘model’ county and that of Wexford town.

As reported previously on Afloat, Braemar took part in Fred Olsen's first ever fleet gathering to one port and all at the same time. The event took place in Bergen last year where the origins of Fred Olsen date back to 1848.

Since 1987 the operator have concentrated cruises departing from UK ports, through Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Dover, Tilbury, Harwich and Falmouth.

Published in Cruise Liners

ESB’s 2040 strategy Driven to Make a Difference: Net Zero by 2040 sets out a clear roadmap for ESB to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. 

ESB will develop and connect renewable energy to decarbonise the electricity system by 2040. ESB will invest in the development of new renewable generation, including onshore and offshore wind and solar, and will significantly increase the amount of renewable generation connected to our electricity networks.

ESB will:

  • Deliver more than a fivefold increase in our renewable generation portfolio to 5,000MW.
  • Reduce carbon intensity of generation fleet from 414 to 140gCO2/kWh by 2030.
  • Decarbonise 63% of our generation output by 2030 and 100% by 2040 (up from c20% now).

Offshore wind

ESB know the importance of offshore wind in tackling climate change and delivering net zero. Ireland has a unique capability given its prime location to take advantage of the potential of offshore wind. ESB are working hard to develop offshore wind projects for the benefit of everyone across society in Ireland and the UK. This includes ongoing engagement with marine users and local communities so ESB can deliver these significant projects.

Offshore wind will play a major role globally in our fight against climate change. It will help to replace energy generated by burning fossil fuels with that from a clean, safe and secure renewable energy source. Ireland’s geographic location on the exposed edge of the Atlantic presents us with a significant opportunity to generate electricity from wind – both offshore and onshore.

Power from onshore wind farms currently provide over one-third of Ireland’s electricity needs. But, whilst its marine area is many times the size of its landmass, Ireland’s offshore wind potential is only starting to be realised. ESB have a coastline stretching over 3,000km but only one operational offshore wind farm – Arklow Bank, with a capacity of 25 MW. In contrast, Belgium’s coastline is only 63km long, but it has already developed more than 2,000 MW of offshore wind. In Great Britain, with a coastline four times the length of ours, offshore wind generation now equates to over 440 Arklow Banks, with an installed capacity of 11,0000 MW as of late 2021.

The Irish Government's target to install 5,000 MW of offshore wind capacity in our maritime area by 2030 is set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021. It also has the objective to source 80% of Ireland’s electricity needs from renewables by the same year. In line with this, ESB is applying its professional and proven engineering expertise to the challenges set within the Climate Action Plan.

ESB are committed to playing a strong role in developing Ireland’s offshore wind potential for the benefit of the people of Ireland. This will be done in consultation with marine users and local communities, and with due care for the marine environment.