#CorkHarbour – The increasing strategic importance of Cork Harbour as a base for the oil and gas energy sector in the search for natural resources particularly off our southern shores, is evident with this recent view taken by our colleagues of the platform supply vessel (PSV) Bourbon Clear passing Cobh, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Not only is Bourbon Clear painted with a distinctive green hull but also features an unconventional bow which is of the X-BOW design, a unique and environmentally-friendly hull line design that is patented by her Norwegian developers Ulstein.

The odd looking X-Bow has an inverted bow design which was first introduced in 2005 with the Bourbon Orca, her introduction caused quite a splash in the offshore maritime world and beyond.

Since then, more 60 vessels of various designs have been completed with the specialist bow form which claims to improve handling in rough seas and in reduced levels of fuel consumption.

The 4,000 tonnes newbuild has further Nordic connections as the owners are Bourbon Offshore Norway. The company have a fleet of vessels that utilizise in the very latest design and technology so to provide supplies to oil and oil-related companies all over the world.

Bourbon Clear passes Port Control at 'The Holy Ground' area of Cork Harbour. Photo: Bob Bateman

Currently Bourbon have newbuilds under construction and they are of the Ulstein PX105 PSV design in which the 80m Bourbon Clear belongs to this series having been launched last year from a Chinese shipyard.

Bourbon Clear has called previously to Cobh Cruise Terminal and in the background of the (TOP) photo, is yet another Norwegian flagged vessel, Hurtigruten's Fram, the polar expedition cruiseship which visited Dublin Port yesterday.

#ShippingReview: Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where Fastnet Shipping has added a new 22m windfarm and survey support vessel (WFSV) to its fleet.

According to the 10th edition of the annual Irish Maritime Transport Economist, the volume of cargo shipped though ports saw a small overall increase last year with two of the five principle cargo segments experiencing growth.

At the Dublin Port Company's AGM, it was announced that the port will pay a €7m dividend to the State in June 2013.

Deliveries of hay to Galway Harbour were under the consideration of Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney in a bid to address the fodder crisis.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Joe Costello visited Tanzania to assess the impact of the UNCTAD Port Training Programme.

More news of wind-farm support vessels, as two such craft have returned to Island Shipping, following completion last month of a charter to a UK offshore wind-farm.

#WindCATS – Two wind-farm service vessels (WFSV) belonging to Wicklow based Island Shipping have completed  another charter to a UK offshore windfarm last month.

The catamaran hulled pair Island Tiger and Island Panther carried out 120 days charter on behalf of Centrica at the Lincs Offshore Windfarm construction site in the North Sea.

Island Shipping welcomed back the WFSV which completed their assignment at the wind-farm facility with no days lost to mechanical failure. For more on this story, offshore.biz reports.

#DFDSBelfast – Shipping and logistics company DFDS are to let go 60 jobs in Belfast at the end of this year as it shifts its finance centre to Poland.

Danish owned company DFDS said Belfast would be the first location to lose its finance department out of the 21 countries in which it operates.

The office on West Bank Road in Belfast will close in December, DFDS said. However its other Irish operations, including DFDS Logistics in Belfast and Dublin, are not affected.

For more on this story the Belfast Telegraph reports.

#UNCTADTanzania - Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Joe Costello has completed a visit to the United Republic of Tanzania at which he reviewed the impact of the UNCTAD Port Training Programme.

Ireland has provided extensive support over the years for the Port Training Programme, which is part of UNCTAD's (United Nations Conference on Trade & Development) TrainForTrade technical assistance programme.

Financial support for the training is provided by Irish Aid - the Irish Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. Supporting the programme are the Dublin Port Company and the Port of Cork in addition to the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

During his official visit to the East African nation, the Minister, met with representatives of Tanzania Ports Authority and toured the port of Dar es Salaam. He and his delegation were received by the Acting Director General of Tanzania Ports Authority, Mr. M. J. Kipande, and his management team.

#Aircraft-Carrier- The Royal Navy's HMS Illustrious (RO6) which is the High Readiness Helicopter and Commando Carrier made a rare visit to Dublin Port when the 22,000 tonnes former aircraft-carrier docked at noon today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The last of the 'Invincible' class of aircraft-carriers commissioned for the Royal Navy is in the capital as part of an international naval flotilla which are arriving at various stages today, having just completed a major multi national warfare exercise off the coast of Scotland.

Captain Martin Connell, Commanding Officer said: "We are really delighted to be visiting Dublin, especially during the period of The Gathering."

To mark her visit to Ireland during the Gathering, HMS Illustrious will be floodlit in green. Captain Connell added "we have been kindly donated some high powered green lighting. We are all looking forward to seeing the end effect."

HMS Illustrious which otherwise is known affectionately by all aboard as 'Lusty' – which used to carry 'Harrier' VSTOL jump-jet aircraft is due to pay off after 32 years sterling service in 2014 to make way for the next-generation aircraft carriers.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, on the other side of the Irish Sea, she made a call to Liverpool in February on what was likely to be her last call to that city as part of a farewell UK tour of ports.

As regards HMS Illustrious's last call to Dublin Port, this was back in 2005 where she docked along the south quays, whereas on this occasion she is moored in Alexandra Basin, facing opposite the Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club marina in Ringsend.

She is to remain in the port over the weekend and depart on Monday.

#DublinPortAGM – At the AGM of the Dublin Port Company today, it was announced that the port will pay a €7m dividend to the State in June 2013 based on its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2012.

The dividend represents a distribution of 30.7% of profit after tax and brings total dividend payments to the State to €53.8m over the last seven years.

While there were headline reductions in Turnover and Profit after tax, the underlying profitability of the business remained strong in 2012 with Operating Profit increasing by 4.6% from €27.8m to €29.1m.

At today's AGM the Annual Report for 2012 was presented to the Company's shareholders in advance of publication later this year after it has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Speaking about the financial performance of Dublin Port Company for 2012, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said: "I commend Dublin Port Company on its financial performance in 2012 and for once again paying a dividend to taxpayers. Dublin Port is an exemplary company which has consistently paid a dividend to the State at or above the level expected by Government.

The Port plays a crucial role for the economy at local and national level, which was acknowledged in the Government's recently published National Ports Policy."

Addressing Dublin Port Company's AGM, Ms Lucy McCaffrey, the Company's Chairperson said: I was pleased to present the company's annual report for 2012 to our shareholders and to confirm to the representatives of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that the company will pay a dividend of €7m to the State in June 2013.

The continued strength of the company's finances will ensure that the company is well positioned to deliver the key infrastructural developments envisaged in the Masterplan 2012-2040 which the company launched last year.

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

Irish Economy - Irish firm's exports up: Irish companies supported by Enterprise Ireland have reached record export levels in 2012, breaking the €16 billion mark for the first time. According to figures from Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, there was a 6.6 per cent increase from the previous year, with exports totaling €16.2 billion.

Container Market -Service changes: Shippers should prepare for service changes and the blanking of sailings in the next few weeks as rates continue to decline sharply and carriers are forced to take action, according to SeaIntel chief Lars Jensen. Speaking at Containerisation International's Global Liner Conference, Mr Jensen said that oversupply of capacity had resulted in spot rates on services from Asia to Europe declining by around $60 per teu each week this year.

Dry Bulk Market -China to push rates up: Chinese demand for dry bulk imports, including iron ore and coal, is expected to lift freight rates from July onwards, according to Pareto Securities AS. Nicolai Hansteen, chief economist at Pareto Shipping, who spoke at the Scandinavian Shipping and Ship Finance Conference.

To read more of each of the above stories and other news from the IMDO Shipping Markets Review for Week 16, click HERE to be viewed or downloaded as a PDF

#NewWindCat- Waterford based Fastnet Shipping Limited has added a new 22m windfarm and survey support catamaran to its fleet of marine plant hire, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The craft which has space to seat up to 27 personnel will be used to transferring construction and crew service teams for the offshore wind-farm /turbine transfer market.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the company since 2010 has entered this sector in UK waters, when they commissioned a quartet of multi-purpose high-speed craft wind-farm support vessels (WFSV) for the charter market.

The introduction of this fifth and larger WFSV will see the 24 knots maximum capable Fastnet Rock able to operate up to 200 nautical miles.

For further vessel specifications of the Panamanian flagged craft click HERE.

In addition to the wind-farm support vessels, Fastnet Shipping operate and charter out vessels involved in dredging contracts, harbour and coastal towage and provide offshore logistics support services.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene, where Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter outlined one of Ireland's EU Presidency priorities, to address the potential to enhance Maritime Safety, Security and Surveillance in the EU.

Plans for the proposed €350m development of the deep-water port at Bremore, near Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, has been effectively shot down under the government's new National Ports Policy.

The IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review reported production of Irish manufacturing industries for February 2013 was 0.2% higher than the previous month according to figures released from the CSO.

The European Parliament has rejected proposals to introduce a levy on all ships calling at EU ports that would finance a fund to support sustainable recycling of ships.

A marine notice (no.17) from the Department of Transport, advises on two minor amendments to ship security plans and on-board retention of security records, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 725/2004 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code).