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Displaying items by tag: Growth

Shipyard owners of Harland & Wolff, InfraStrata has reported "steady progress" in the first months of its financial year.

In a Q1 trading update, the business said it has booked about £6.5m in the eight months to 31 March 2021, with further growth expected this year.

Its cruise and ferry market has broken even after larger contract wins were established.

InfraStrata acquired the assets of the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast from administrators in 2019.

It then further invested in the business by acquiring the Appledore shipyard in North Devon.

Insider has more here on this story. 

Afloat adds that InfraStrata in recent weeks acquired the assets of Scottish based Burntisland Fabrication Ltd from the administrators. 

These facilities will trade under Harland & Wolff brand and represent the final fabrication piece of its UK footprint.

This will position the company to fully deliver on its existing strategy quicker than it would have done with only its two existing sites: Harland & Wolff (Belfast) and Harland & Wolff (Appledore).

Published in Shipyards

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.

The Forty-foot Christmas Day swim

A Dublin institution that brings people from across Dublin and beyond for a dip in the chilly winter sea. Bathers arrive in the dark from 6 am and by noon the entire forty foot is a sea of red Santa hats!