#WhitegateOilRefinery – The Irish Independent writes that the US oil company, Phillips 66 has pulled the sale of Ireland's only oil refinery at Whitegate in Cork as attempts to find a buyer failed. Last June, Phillips 66 hired Deutsche Bank…

#MarineWildlife - Seal pup deaths around the Isle of Man are at their highest level in six years, prompting concerns for the health of the marine mammals on the Irish Sea island, as BBC News reports. "Particularly harsh" weather conditions…

#MarineWildlife - The swimmer who suffered serious injuries when she was attacked by Doolin's formerly resident dolphin has spoken of the "pure terror" of the incident last summer. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the woman was hospitalised after being stuck…

#MarineScience - The first underwater TV (UWTV) survey of the Bay of Biscay Nephrops grounds was carried out on the RV Celtic Voyager from 20-29 September. This survey involved collaboration between the fishing industry and IFREMER, the French equivalent of…

#MarineWildlife - The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) reports on a recent encounter with a humpback whale that's no stranger to our shores. Marine mammal observer William Hunt was on the RV Celtic Explorer along the south coast where…

#PollockHoles - Kilkee personality Manuel Di Lucia takes The Irish Times's Lorna Siggins on a tour below the depths to see the renowned Pollock Holes, a unique marine environment on the Irish coastline that he believes deserves special protection. The…

#NewUCCcentre – According to a report in the Irish Examiner, University College Cork has been granted permission to facilitate site works for the development of a major maritime research centre on the southside of Cork harbour. The university applied at…

#MarineScience - Seabed mapping activity and developments during 2014 will be showcased at the annual seminar of Ireland’s national marine mapping initiative, INFOMAR, was opened yesterday (Wednesday 22 October) at the Tower Hotel in Waterford. The INFOMAR programme, dedicated to…

#MarineWildlife - Via the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) comes news that the European Commission (EC) is asking the United Kingdom to designate protected areas for the harbour porpoise. The EU legislation on the conservation of natural habitats and of…

#EastLink@30 – Naval Service OPV L.E. Aisling (P23) took the honour of passing through Dublin's East-Link Toll Bridge as the Liffey road crossing celebrated opening to traffic 30 years ago today, writes Jehan Ashmore. The final of the 'Emer' OPV…

#MarineWildlife - Care of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), Tony Whelan produced this video documenting some of the highlights of the sixth Cetaceans on the Frontier marine research trip last month. Researchers boarded the RV Celtic Explorer bound…

#Oil&Gas - The Government is redoubling efforts to survey Ireland's coastal waters for new and exploitable oil and gas resources – and determine their impact on the ecosystem and protected marine wildlife. As TheJournal.ie reports, the pronouncement by Minster of…

#capeclear – As Afloat.ie reported earlier this month, L&M Keating Ltd, a building and civil engineering contractor, successfully towed and installed the contractor designed 1000t reinforced concrete lock chamber for a new storm gate on Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork from…

#Weather - Met Éireann says a Status Yellow weather warning is in effect for Ireland's coastal waters as the remains of Hurricane Gonzalo are set to sweep over the country from tonight (Monday 20 October). Mariners are warned to take…

#MarineWildlife - Climate change is driving fish species away from the tropics for more hospitable, warming waters elsewhere, according to scientists from the University of British Columbia. RTÉ News has more on the story, which outlines that even in the…

#MarineScience - George Hanna, a student of the Benthic Acoustic Mapping and Survey (BEAMS) programme in the USA, recently joined the Irish INFOMAR team on the research vessel RV Celtic Voyager during an inshore survey of Mizen Head, Co Cork.…