Displaying items by tag: Exporters Ireland on Brexit

9th July 2016

Shipping Review: Reduced Exposure on Brexit, Marine Industry Awards & Port Volumes Rise

#ShippingReview - Jehan Ashmore reviews the shipping scene and of the following stories among the last fortnight.

Enterprise Ireland are to seek its clients to be less reliant on UK markets following Brexit, this is to reduce exports by about 7% over the next five years.

Bad news for Irish exporters into the UK as imports will decline as foreign products become more expensive due to weakening sterling, ratings agency Fitch has warned.

At the second annual Marine Industry Awards, held in Galway, Dr Dave Jackson of the Marine Institute was named as Marine Industry Leader for 2016.

After 15 years the European Commission, Council and Parliament have agreed on Port Regulation, a legal framework for organising port services and financial transparency for ports.

Following completion of a series of three freight train trials will enable Irish Rail to increase loads by 50%.

CSO figures reveal an increase in Irish port volumes that handled 50.7 million tonnes of goods in 2015, an increase of 3.2 million tonnes (+6.7%) when compared to 2014.

Published in Ports & Shipping

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.