Harland & Wolff shipyard chief executive John Wood Minister of State Jack Chambers and Simply Blue CEO Dr Val Cummins will be keynote speakers at the National Maritime Ball in Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel on Friday 19 May.

Limited tickets are still available to attend the event, which is being hosted by the president of the Irish Chamber of Shipping, Giuseppe D’Oliveri in collaboration with the Marine Ireland Industry Network and the Atlantic Youth Trust.

Funds raised on the evening will help support the important work of the Atlantic Youth Trust charity, whose mission is to connect youth with the ocean and adventure.

In his keynote address, Wood will discuss the innovative and technical advancements in shipbuilding throughout the UK and Ireland, with a particular focus on the storied Belfast shipyard.

Dr Cummins will update the gathering on the fast-moving offshore wind space in Ireland and the lessons we can take from our neighbours across Europe.

Atlantic Youth Trust’s director of development Catherine Noone said: “This year’s ball promises to be a unique gathering of the marine sector in this post-covid period in which it has become important for people to meet, reconnect, share ideas and network. The Atlantic Youth Trust exists to connect young people with the ocean and adventure, and events like this are crucial in achieving that goal.

“As an island nation we have a deep-rooted love of and interest in the sea. The maritime industry is of fundamental importance to our economy, and Ireland is a country of real opportunity when it comes to the blue economy.

“Many of our export markets, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, medical devices and computer services, are intrinsically connected to the existing and emerging marine sectors which have long attracted many high-performing industries and multinational companies to Ireland. This year’s ball aims to celebrate that success and promote the opportunities still to come.”

The event is a black-tie gala dinner with music until late and a toast on the evening with some delicious wines and bubbly from D’Amico’s vineyards in Italy which have been shipping for the special evening. A limited number of tickets are still available for the gala ball and are available from maritimeball.ie.

#MaritimeBall - From around the country over 160 people were treated to some top class hospitality as the Irish Institute of Master Mariners and the Irish Chamber of Shipping held the Marine Ball in the Arklow Bay Hotel, writes The Wickow People. 

It's four years since the ball was last held in Arklow and Mary O'Neill, vice president of the Irish Chamber of Shipping, said it is one of the biggest events of the year. 'Arklow has always had a strong connection with the mariners, so it was great to honour the town,' said Mary.

There was several guest of honours at the event, including Commodore Hugh Tully from the Irish Navy; Conor Mowlds, director of the National Maritime College of Ireland; Liam Lacey, director of the Irish Maritime Development Office; and Michael Kingston, Global Maritime Lawyer of the Year 2016.

Speaking at the event, Cllr Tommy Annesley, cathaoirleach of the Arklow Municipal District, congratulated everyone for their hard work and said that it was 'great to see the local Maritime of Ireland branch to get together with the national organisation.'

As previously reported on Afloat last week, Arklow Shipping's newbuild Arklow Clan, a short-sea trader made a brief anchorage call offshore of the shipowners homeport.

Afloat's shipping correspondent, Jehan Ashmore will have more to report on the maritime heritage of the Co. Wicklow town that has strongly shaped the nation's merchant shipping fleet past and present.   

Another key date in the Irish merchant marine calendar is tomorrow's (19 Nov.) annual National Commemoration for Irish Seafarers, which takes place at the memorial monument on City Quay, Dublin from 12 noon.