Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#BelfastLough - Belfast's Window on Wildlife is the new name for the RSPB's nature reserve on Belfast Lough, which reopens tomorrow (Wednesday 18 February). As Birdwatch reports, the opening comes after an extensive refurbishment project that will allow visitors to…

#RecordTonnage - Belfast Harbour trade figures reveal that the port handled a record 23 million tonnes during 2014, up 46% since the recession's low point in 2009. Overall tonnages rose by 1.6%, driven by strong growth in bulk cargo which…

#ByfordDolphin - Oil rig Byford Dolphin finally arrived in Belfast for her refit at the weekend, spelling a significant jobs boost for the city's port. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the contract to dry-dock and survey the rig – sister to…

Since its formation in the early days of 2014 the Northern Ireland Restricted Keelboat Racing Association (NIRKRA) has made significant strides around and beyond the waters of Belfast Lough writes Tom Jobling. The class claims It is the fastest growing…

#RigContract -  Harland and Wolff (H&W) has announced a contract to dry dock and provide a Renewal / Special Periodic Survey of the rig Byford Dolphin. The contract of the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) was from Aberdeen-based Dolphin Drilling…

#BoutiqueHotel - In the Titanic Quarter, a luxury hotel employing 75 people, has come a step closer, it can be revealed reports the Belfast Telegraph. The flagship 84-bedroom four-star 'boutique' development will be based at the old Harland & Wolff…

#GreenAward – The highest scoring level of platinum status has been achieved by Belfast Harbour, in this year's Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey. Now in its sixteenth year, the Survey, generated by Business in the Community's ARENA Network campaign and…

#BelfastCityQuays2 – Following planning permission work is begin on a Belfast Harbour led development that forms part of wider £250m City Quays scheme as previously reported on Afloat.ie. The work on the site of City Quays 2 an office development…

#BelfastLough - A fleet of eight NATO minehunters is set to make a bold display in Belfast Lough tomorrow morning (Friday 17 October). As the Ballymena Times reports, the ships and their international crews - part of the Standing NATO…

#H&Wappointment – Harland & Wolff Heavy Industries has appointment Jonathan Guest as Director of Fabrication, of the Belfast based ship repairer, conversion, engineering and renewable energy manufacturer. Guest's appointed to the Board of H&W, will see him have responsibility for…

#FilmHighRise- A former Belfast Harbour ferry terminal has been transformed for the film 'High Rise' set in a 1970s apartment block. According to Belfast Harbour, the filming at the disused Stena Line terminal at Ballast Quay involved the creation of…

#BelfastGiants - Belfast City residents and those living alongside the lough may have noticed a new hulk which sailed into the city recently, reports the News Letter. A large oil rig, called the Borgny Dolphin, has docked at Harland and…

#BelfastHarbour - 4NI reports that Northern Ireland Environment Minister Mark Durkan has granted planning permission for a 60-acre extension to Belfast Harbour. The expansion for port-related uses goes hand in hand with last year's announcement of Ireland's first dedicated cruise…

#H&Wdirector- Harland & Wolff Heavy Industries has appointed James Lappin as the new Director of Ship & Offshore Unit Repair. The new position will involve total responsibility for developing and growing the Belfast company's business in this sector and execution…

#CruiseBelfast- Belfast Harbour's bumper cruise season is to have a total of 61 callers this year, among them the largest cruiseship ever to visit the port, the newbuild Royal Princess which has a capacity of 3,600 passengers, writes Jehan Ashmore.…

#nikra – Despite the horrendous weather which had encircled Northern Ireland last weekend a tiny window opened to allow the August "Challenge" races of the Northern Ireland Restricted Keelboat Racing Association (NIRKRA) to proceed on Belfast Lough. A Bangor bay…