Displaying items by tag: Lasta Mara TEO

3rd May 2017

Aran Islands Freighter Finally Resumes Services Across Galway Bay

Bláth na Mara as seen underway in March following work carried out in Killybegs, however further maintenance took place in her homeport of Galway.

#AranFreighters - Ireland’s Iargest domestic coastal cargoship finally returned to Galway-Aran Islands service following more than one month of maintenance carried out in the mid-west port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 330 gross tonnage Bláth na Mara operated by Lasta Mara Teoranta, had beforehand had hull works carried out in March at Mooney Boats. The ship was hoisted out of the water at the facility in Killybegs Co. Donegal and transferred by rail away from the quayside for the works.

Afloat had monitored the 36m vessel’s resumption yesterday in bringing essential supplies to all three Aran Islands: Inishmore, Inis Meain and Inis Oirr. This saw a sailing head first for the main island of Inishmore. On completion of discharging cargo in Kilronan Harbour, it was then an anti-clockwise route taken to the smaller isles before returning across Galway Bay.

Also operating these services until this morning was fleetmate Chateau Thierry, a roll on / roll-off vessel that carried out relief cover while the larger vessel received further attention.

As there is no slipway facilities in Galway Port, cargo loading of the ro-ro Chateau Thierry instead required use of its deck-mounted crane to load cargo from the harbour’s outer pier.

Chateau Thierry is to resume routine sailings to the Aran Islands based out of Rossaveel.

Published in Island News

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Three’s A Crowd as Naval, Research and Cargo Ships Dock In Galway

During the weekend call of L.E. Eithne to Galway Harbour, the Naval Service flagship shared the mid-west port with a Spanish oceanographic research vessel (RV) and a cargoship,writes Jehan Ashmore.

The port consists of a single basin named the Dún Aengus Dock where the Vigo registered RV Vizconde de Eza (2000/1,401grt) was berthed. The 53m vessel is run by the 'Secrataria General del Mer' (MARM) which is on an assignment to asses the abundance, estimation and distribution patterns of demersal-benthic species in the Porcupine Abyssal Plain. The port is of also the homeport to the Marine Institute RV vessels and their headquarters based in nearby Oranmore.

Also sharing the basin but located closer to the dock gates was Arklow Shipping Ltd's Dutch registered dry-cargo vessel Arklow Surf (2000/2,316grt). The dock is capable of handling more vessels simultaneously and of course used as a host-port of the high-profile Volvo Ocean Race which is due to return next year.

Galway and neighbouring Limerick City with its Ted Russell Dock, are the only dock-gate accessed ports on the island of Ireland. In the case of Galway there is an exception as freight operations are also available from an outer pier on the seaward side of Dún Aengus Dock though only for domestic purposes. From this pier the dedicated Aran Islands freight service is operated by Lasta Mara TEO's Blath na Mara (1983/330grt). As for Limerick, vessels can also berth outside the dock but they tend to be small port-work related craft that use the outer berth on the Shannon Estuary.

The Galway Harbour Company in recent years have proposed plans for a new outer port, to be built in four stages with a completion date set for 2017. This would enable larger deeper drafted vessels such as tankers and cruiseships to dock in the new port. In the meantime cruiseships anchor off Mutton Island. In addition a freight rail-link, berthing for an inshore fishing fleet and a 216 berth marina are proposed.

To read more about the port proposals visit http://www.galwayharbour.com/news.php?id=11and for aerial visual impressions click HERE.

Published in Galway Harbour

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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.