Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Dublin Bay Boating News and Information

Displaying items by tag: Larger Containerships

2nd March 2021

Larger Containerships Arrive in Dublin Bay With Latest Calling to Capital Port Today

In recent months, Afloat observed MSC Monica arrive on Dublin Bay as above and track berthing in the capital's port where today another slightly smaller capacity container called to a lo-lo terminal. MSC Monica has container loading also aft of the superstructure, presenting a more balanced profile..

Afloat observed one of the largest containerships in recent year's arrive on Dublin Bay, a 3,502 TEU capacity ship that called last month to the port was followed by a slightly smaller vessel today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

MSC Monica had called to Dublin from Antwerp in Belgium, as did today's containership, Elbspirit, albeit of slighty reduced capacity of 3,426 TEU (twenty foot equivalent units). The impact of Brexit has also led larger containerships operate through the English Channel along with ro-ro freight ferries kept busy bypassing the UK. 

The MSC Monica built in (2003/46,240dwt) is also larger in deadweight terms, had also previously called on the last day of January to the south quays at Marine Terminals Ltd (MTL). This lo-lo terminal is operated by UK based port group Peel Ports through their subsidiary BG Freight Line.

Whereas today's arrival by Elbspirit (2008/42,605dwt) took place on the north quays at the Dublin Ferryport Terminal (DFT). The lo-lo facility is a container division of Irish Continental Group (ICG).

Elbspirit required Dublin Port Co's (DPC) tug Shackleton to take charge at the bow while Giano handled off the stern. The latter tug is operated by a Dublin based operator, Purple Water Towing.

The giant operator MSC, is the world's second largest container company employing 70,000 employees, with a fleet of 560 vessels covering 200 routes all over the world and 500 ports.

With such a huge shipping operator they have 3.1m (TEU) containers! and they operate a subsidiary, MSC Cruises originally formed in Naples, Italy.

Across from the Tyrrhenian Sea port and the Ligurian sea is where operator, Corsica Ferries based in Bastia, has for two months chartered Mega Express Four to ICG's passenger division, Irish Ferries on routes to the UK and France.

Elbspirit, also operates for MSC and so is not to be confused with ICG's other container division, EUCON with containerships mostly with names beginnning with 'Elb', for example Elbtrader.

They too berth at DFT facility which is adjacent to the Dublin Port's main passenger ferry terminal, No.1. Operators at the terminal are Irish Ferries.

In addition the Isle of Man Steam Packet have traditionally served a seasonal link to Douglas during the Easter break, the summer months and for the festive period.

Published in Dublin Bay
Tagged under
Read more...

Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay on the east coast of Ireland stretches over seven kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine.

The biggest boating centre is at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the Bay's south shore that is home to over 1,500 pleasure craft, four waterfront yacht clubs and Ireland's largest marina.

The bay is rather shallow with many sandbanks and rocky outcrops, and was notorious in the past for shipwrecks, especially when the wind was from the east. Until modern times, many ships and their passengers were lost along the treacherous coastline from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, less than a kilometre from shore.

The Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea and is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south. North Bull Island is situated in the northwest part of the bay, where one of two major inshore sandbanks lie, and features a 5 km long sandy beach, Dollymount Strand, fronting an internationally recognised wildfowl reserve. Many of the rivers of Dublin reach the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay: the River Liffey, with the River Dodder flow received less than 1 km inland, River Tolka, and various smaller rivers and streams.

Dublin Bay FAQs

There are approximately ten beaches and bathing spots around Dublin Bay: Dollymount Strand; Forty Foot Bathing Place; Half Moon bathing spot; Merrion Strand; Bull Wall; Sandycove Beach; Sandymount Strand; Seapoint; Shelley Banks; Sutton, Burrow Beach

There are slipways on the north side of Dublin Bay at Clontarf, Sutton and on the southside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and in Dalkey at Coliemore and Bulloch Harbours.

Dublin Bay is administered by a number of Government Departments, three local authorities and several statutory agencies. Dublin Port Company is in charge of navigation on the Bay.

Dublin Bay is approximately 70 sq kilometres or 7,000 hectares. The Bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and seven km in length east-west to its peak at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the southside of the Bay has an East and West Pier, each one kilometre long; this is one of the largest human-made harbours in the world. There also piers or walls at the entrance to the River Liffey at Dublin city known as the Great North and South Walls. Other harbours on the Bay include Bulloch Harbour and Coliemore Harbours both at Dalkey.

There are two marinas on Dublin Bay. Ireland's largest marina with over 800 berths is on the southern shore at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The other is at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on the River Liffey close to Dublin City.

Car and passenger Ferries operate from Dublin Port to the UK, Isle of Man and France. A passenger ferry operates from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth as well as providing tourist voyages around the bay.

Dublin Bay has two Islands. Bull Island at Clontarf and Dalkey Island on the southern shore of the Bay.

The River Liffey flows through Dublin city and into the Bay. Its tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

Approximately 1,500 boats from small dinghies to motorboats to ocean-going yachts. The vast majority, over 1,000, are moored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour which is Ireland's boating capital.

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the importance of Dublin Bay by designating North Bull Island as a Biosphere because of its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife. To support sustainable development, UNESCO’s concept of a Biosphere has evolved to include not just areas of ecological value but also the areas around them and the communities that live and work within these areas. There have since been additional international and national designations, covering much of Dublin Bay, to ensure the protection of its water quality and biodiversity. To fulfil these broader management aims for the ecosystem, the Biosphere was expanded in 2015. The Biosphere now covers Dublin Bay, reflecting its significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance, and extends to over 300km² to include the bay, the shore and nearby residential areas.

On the Southside at Dun Laoghaire, there is the National Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as Dublin Bay Sailing Club. In the city centre, there is Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. On the Northside of Dublin, there is Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and Sutton Dinghy Club. While not on Dublin Bay, Howth Yacht Club is the major north Dublin Sailing centre.

© Afloat 2020

Dublin Bay Buoy

4WeHelp Movers Cincinnati

Kish Lighthouse

4WeHelp Movers Cincinnati
Afloat Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine

Copyright © 2024 Baily Publications Ltd Terms and Conditions

Our site uses cookies. If you're not happy about that please hit your back button.

Web Design & Development by Red Evolution