#CruiseLiners – MSC Magnifica of 95,000 tonnes, made her maiden Irish call to Dublin Port this morning, she follows MSC Liricia, which last year visited the capital marking the first entry of MSC Cruises operations with calls to Ireland, writes Jehan Ashmore.

At nearly 300m long MSC Magnifica which cost $547million was completed in 2010 and she represents the latest of the 'Musica' class vessels. She has 16 decks in which 13 are exclusively for 2,500 passengers. Throughout these decks there are 17 bars, 5 restaurants, a theatre, library, card room, smoker's room and meeting room.

Among the other facilities, run by her 1,000 crew are the bowling alley, 3D cinema, a casino, internet point and three swimming pools, tennis court and for total relaxation the wellness and spa centre.

#BrazilianTallship– A Brazilian Navy sail training vessel NSV Cisne Branco docked in Dublin Port this lunchtime, her call bringing back memories to last year's hosting of the Tall Ship Race Festival, writes Jehan Ashmore.

On her arrival, the Dutch built Cisne Branco ("white swan") which is three-masted full-rigged ship and only launched in 1999 passed a pair of other tallships. They are the Johanna Lucretia and Irene (previously Irene of Bridgewater) which are also making a weekend visit while moored at the Poolbeg YC & Marina.

The pair are visiting the capital as part of a series of Tallship 'Gathering' events organised by Sail Training Ireland and held throughout the summer, and where the Poolbeg facility is to host the inaugural Dublin Port River Festival on the June Bank holiday.

Cisne Branco transited through the East-LinK toll-bridge and berthed at Sir John Rogerson Quay where the 2,991 tonnes luxury charter motoryacht Lauren L has in recent days shifted berths within the port.

Also berthed nearby the L.E. Aisling (P23), the final member of the trio of 'Emer' class OPV's which are an improved version of the 'Deirdre' . As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the leadship L.E. Emer is to be sold along with L.E. Aoife.

Two Class B Tall Ships will arrive in Dublin Port today as part of a "Gathering Ireland 2013" project organised by Sail Training Ireland and their Liverpool Based partner "Merseyside Adventure Sailing Trust".  The first ship, Irene of Bridgewater, sailed in last night and anchored in Scotsman's Bay just as the Queen Mary 2 departed.

The ships are being hosted by Poolbeg Marina and tomorrow morning at 11.00am an Irish-Coffee reception is organised on board. If you are interested in Tall Ships or perhaps a future voyage, this is your chance to come along and see the ships first hand.

Irene is a West Country Trading Ketch, built in 1907 by FJ Carver and Sons.Owned by the same family since 1965, Irene has sailed extensively around the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and UK waters. Following a complete rebuild lasting six years, Irene is now earning her keep as both a sail training vessel and a sustainable cargo business.  She also attends many of the major sailing events on the annual regatta and festival calendar.

The project entitled "Sail Home To Your Roots" involves two ships and 16 novice-sailors aged from 16 to 70 years from the UK. Some of the participants are of Irish descent and sail here to celebrate their Irish roots.

The ships will arrive at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club between 2 and 3pm today. Tomorrow morning, Councillor Paddy Bourke of Dublin City Council will officially welcome the crews to Dublin. Cllr. Bourke will be representing The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Naoise O Múirí who is Admiral of Dublin Port and a very strong supporter of Sail Training Ireland's activities.

This event is a pre-cursor to a larger event on the June bank holiday weekend where these two ships will be joined by 2 larger Class A Tall Ships and another Class B to take part in the Dublin Port River Festival being organised by Dublin Port Company.

#CruiseLiners – The dual serving liner and cruiseship Queen Mary 2 was not the only passenger vessel visiting Dublin Bay today, as the Serenissima docked within Dun Laoghaire Harbour and Artania called to Dublin Port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The contrast could not be so diverse between the Dun Laoghaire cruise callers. The 2,620 passenger Cunard Line giant of 151,400 tonnes, making an impressive sight at anchorage (see web-cam) while Noble Caledonia's 2,500 tonnes Serenissima slipped into port berthing at Carlisle Pier. She had sailed overnight from Waterford and has accommodation for just over 100 passengers.

Serenissima is a former member of the Norwegian Hurtigruten Coastal Cruises fleet and her hull form and overall appearance certainly reflects her era. She was built in 1960 and launched as Harald Jarl serving a career along the many fjords of Norway.

As an exploration cruiseship she has also travelled to the other end of the world on cruises to the Antarctic under the name Andrea.

Also making a mid-May morning arrival albeit heading for Dublin Port was Phoenix Reisen Cruises Artania from Belfast.

The 44,500 tonnes Bermuda flagged vessel with a 1,200 passenger capacity was formerly launched for Princess Cruises as Royal Princess and christened by Diana, Princess of Wales.

#DublinPort –Visiting cruise ships such as today's arrival of Le Boreal to Dublin Port are to be brought much further up the Liffey in a new plan to develop deep water berths.

Part of the river at Dublin Port is to be dredged to create a 12m deep channel for some of the world's biggest liners, up to 340m long, to dock beside the East Link toll bridge.

The development will be promoted with at least a quarter of the 100 cruise ships coming into Dublin this year using the berths. It will also ensure that tides will not stop the bigger ships getting closer to the city centre.

Dublin Port Company has begun a pre-planning consultation process and a planning application for the work to take place is expected to be submitted in September. The development intends to create room for two new cruise berths next to the toll bridge.

For more on this story, The Irish Times reports.

#CruiseLiners – Sea Explorer the small cruiseship which spent a brief 'lay-up' period in Dun Laoghaire Harbour during the Spring, as previously reported on Afloat.ie, returned to Dublin Bay today again 'without' passengers, with the ship docking instead in Dublin Port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Since the departure of the 4,200 tonnes cruiseship from Dun Laoghaire Harbour, she has spent a further period of under lay-up in Barrow-in-Furness.

Sea Explorer berthed this morning at Ocean Pier, having sailed the Irish Sea from the Cumbrian port so to prepare the Italian built vessel for a new charter season for Copenhagen based Albratros Travel.  The cruises will operate in Northern Europe and to Greenland.

Also in Dublin Port today is Le Boreal which berthed at North Wall Quay (close to the East-Link bridge), from where the detained cargoship Clipper Faith had to shift berths from this location and moor elsewhere in the port.

It will be a busy day for the port as third cruise caller is due this evening with Island Sky making a teatime arrival. She is one of eight sisters including Sea Explorer that were originally built for Renaissance Cruises.

#DetainedBulker- A High Court judge has expressed concern for the crew of a Belize registered 19,000 tonnes cargo ship detained in Dublin Port since last March and who have not been paid since late last year.

The 17 crew, represented by the International Transport Workers Federation, had brought proceedings against the owner of the MV Clipper Faith for unpaid wages of approximately $320,000.

The ship's owner, the Liberian-registered Afternoon Maritime, said it lacked funds to pay the crew, who are largely from Russia and Ukraine. For more on this story, The Irish Times has a report.

#CruiseLiners – For the first time during the 2013 Dublin Port cruise season, two such vessels are due to dock on the same day and only hours apart, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The French mega-yacht style cruiseship Le Boreal from Caen, Normandy is scheduled to arrive first in the early hours of next Sunday. She will be followed by the Norwegian polar region cruise expedition vessel Fram with an arrival from Cork.

Sleek lined Le Boreal is operated by Compagnie due Ponant yacht cruises and the stoutly proportioned Fram is run by Hurtigruten. This operator of course is famous for providing the important Norwegian coastal voyage between Bergen and Kirkenes, beyond the Arctic circle and bordering the Russian Federation.

Among the many regions, the Fram explores the other end of the world with cruises in the Antarctic Ocean.

Dublin Port can look forward to another record breaking year with around 105 cruise calls scheduled in 2013, this compares to last year where there were 89 arrivals. The rise in the 2013 season reflects approximately an increase of 20% compared to last year.

#AircraftCarrier – During the rare visit of the Royal Navy's HMS Illustrious (R06) to Dublin Port (PHOTO's) at the weekend, the last serving 'Invincible' class aircraft-carrier was given a Gathering welcome with a showering of green light, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 22,000 displacement tons former aircraft-carrier which currently serves in the role as a High Readiness Helicopter and Commando Carrier, had called to the capital having completed Exercise Joint Warrior, a multi-national event involving several navies, off the coast of Scotland.

The 35 year old vessel which berthed at Alexandra Basin, was floodlit in green (as it happens, aptly on her starboard side) from lamps laid alongside Ocean Pier.

The special lighting effects were created by the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers with whom 'Lusty' as she is affectionately known by her 700 crew have a close affiliation to.

Niall Gibbons, CEO Tourism Ireland, said: "We were delighted to welcome HMS Illustrious to Ireland and are sure that the sailors on board received a wonderful Irish welcome during their stay."

During her visit, two members of the Ship's Company, Able Seaman Andrew Liston, 25, from Chesterfield and Able Seaman Aaron Canwell, 31, from Wembley, were both awarded certificates of Irish Heritage for having family ties to the country.

Another highlight of their 'Gathering' visit was a performance by Irish group, Ragus, who transformed the ship's hangar into a stage filled with traditional Irish music and dance.

HMS Illustrious was launched in 1978 from Swan Hunter on the Tyne and for most of her career spanning more than three decades the 209m long vessel had on board the famous 'Harrier' VSTOL jump-jets aircraft.

The Portsmouth based vessel is one of four Royal Navy core amphibious vessels, however she is due to pay off in 2014 and in her place are a pair of Queen Elizabeth class 65,000 tons aircraft –carriers currently under construction.

Until these newbuilds are delivered, HMS Ocean (L12) a helicopter carrier of 21,500 tons which has called to Dublin Port on previous occasions, is to replace the Lusty after completion of a £65m refit at Devonport Royal Dockyard early next year.

Yesterday HMS Illustrious departed Dublin Port as did all the other visiting navies which took part in Exercise Joint Warrior, except for the French Navy's oil replenishment tanker Marne which made an exodus this afternoon.

#NavalFlotilla – With the Royal Navy's HMS Illustrious (RO6) already docked in Dublin Port along with German and French naval vessels, the port is expecting a final member of the visiting European naval flotilla this afternoon, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Berthed near to HMS Illustrious are the German Navy's oil replenishment tanker FGS Rheon (A1443) and Sachsen class frigate FGS Hessen (F221). Also in port is the French Navy's Marne (A630) another replenishment oil tanker.

While offshore of Dublin Bay is the remaining vessel due to arrive, the Royal Netherlands Navy HNMLS Luymes (A803) a hydrographic research vessel. The 2,091 tonnes vessel has completed carrying out exercises off Scotland along with her European fleetmates.

Only HNMLS Luymes is to berth closer to the city-centre along Sir John Rogersons Quay, which requires a transit through the East-Link lift toll bridge this afternoon.

The Naval Service L.E. Emer (P21) is also to moor alongside the south quays though not till tomorrow morning.