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Displaying items by tag: Bulkers

#DublinBay - Two bulk-carriers currently anchored off Bulloch Harbour in Dublin Bay, one from South America, the other from mainland Europe, both await docking in the capital's port, but exactly at the same basin berth, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The larger of the bulkers, Luzon at 55,657dwt had sailed originally from Argentina from where the ship loaded agricultural products, however the near 190m vessel had recently first called to Belfast Harbour. Upon completion of a part-cargo discharged in the Ulster port, the bulker made the short passage down through the Irish Sea to Dublin Bay. 

Later today, the Liberian flagged Luzon is due to dock in Dublin Port around midnight at Alexandra Basin to discharge the remains of the cargo. The dry-bulk / break bulk common user facility in the basin along Alexandra Quay West is located adjacent to the large silos of the disused Odlums Flour Mill, having closed in 2012.

Afloat will have more to report on plans for the former flour building which dominates the port's largest basin located east of the entertainment venue, the Three Arena. Previously, known as The Point Theatre housed in the original building from where a former port-related railway depot existed.

The 2010 built bulker Luzon is just a year younger of the second bulker, Arklow Manor, of 14,990dwt, which is the leadship of six 'M ' class bulkers built in 2009 at the Mokpo Shipbuilding Ind. Co., Korea. The 134m bulker had sailed from the French inland Port of Caen in Normandy, reached via the Canal de Caen à la Mer, which links to Ouistreham, 15 kms downstream, on the English Channel.

At Ouistreham is where a terminal custom-built for Brittany Ferries opened in the mid-1980's to operate a route to Portsmouth, UK, served currently by Normandie and Mont St. Michel. On an occasion involving a ferry and related taxi trip to Caen, a fleeting glimpse of a distinctive green hulled Arklow Shipping 'R' class 4,933dwt cargoship shortsea trader was spotted in the Port de Commerce de Caen-Ouistreham.

The recent call of the 'M' class fleetmate to Caen reflects the range in dwt, though ASL have larger bulkers, representing the biggest ships of the fleet and under the Irish flag with the 'S' class pair each of 34,905dwt.  The older of the pair, just over a year ago Arklow Spirit made a maiden call to the capital port. The deepsea bulker having anchored previously in Dublin Bay along with the smaller Arklow Marsh, another sister of the six-strong M class bulkers dating to 2010. 

On completion of discharging Luzon in Dublin Port, two days later at the exact berth (No.30) is where Arklow Manor has been allocated to dock. Over the years Afloat has reported on the facility in Alexandra Basin in handling animal feed, fertiliser and grain.

A sister, Arklow Meadow (see, coverage/photo incl. old Oldlums Mill) had dry-docked in the State's then largest such facility (220m) until the marine business operator was forced to close in 2016, due to plans by Dublin Port Company to in-fill the dry dock. This is to facilitate increased quayside capacity for the €227m Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) project, phase one of the Port's Masterplan. The project permits larger cargoships and cruiseships to enter and meet the demands expected in the future of the capital's port.

As alluded before the distinctive green hulls of the ASL fleet, however the vast majority of bulkers use black, blue, grey and red. In design terms, Luzon's five cargoholds are equipped with cranes mounted between the hatches. Whereas, Arklow Manor with one less cargohold, is dependent on port handling grabber cranes that scoup and dump whatever traded cargo is carried.

Published in Dublin Bay

Maritime Management is seeking a Crew Manager for their fleet of bulk, reefer and exploration vessels. Previous experience in a similar role is important. The position requires English as the working language but if you are multi-lingual, especially Russian, this will be an advantage. All applicants must have an EU working entitlement. For further information and contact details logon HERE.

In 2002 Maritime Management was founded and is a supplier of services to the international maritime and shipping industry in Ireland, particularly those companies who are looking at Ireland as a base for their maritime operations. The company's primary services are ship management, maritime consultancy and marine surveying.

For further information about Maritime Management logon to www.bmml.ie

Published in Jobs

About Dublin Port 

Dublin Port is Ireland’s largest and busiest port with approximately 17,000 vessel movements per year. As well as being the country’s largest port, Dublin Port has the highest rate of growth and, in the seven years to 2019, total cargo volumes grew by 36.1%.

The vision of Dublin Port Company is to have the required capacity to service the needs of its customers and the wider economy safely, efficiently and sustainably. Dublin Port will integrate with the City by enhancing the natural and built environments. The Port is being developed in line with Masterplan 2040.

Dublin Port Company is currently investing about €277 million on its Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR), which is due to be complete by 2021. The redevelopment will improve the port's capacity for large ships by deepening and lengthening 3km of its 7km of berths. The ABR is part of a €1bn capital programme up to 2028, which will also include initial work on the Dublin Port’s MP2 Project - a major capital development project proposal for works within the existing port lands in the northeastern part of the port.

Dublin Port has also recently secured planning approval for the development of the next phase of its inland port near Dublin Airport. The latest stage of the inland port will include a site with the capacity to store more than 2,000 shipping containers and infrastructures such as an ESB substation, an office building and gantry crane.

Dublin Port Company recently submitted a planning application for a €320 million project that aims to provide significant additional capacity at the facility within the port in order to cope with increases in trade up to 2040. The scheme will see a new roll-on/roll-off jetty built to handle ferries of up to 240 metres in length, as well as the redevelopment of an oil berth into a deep-water container berth.

Dublin Port FAQ

Dublin was little more than a monastic settlement until the Norse invasion in the 8th and 9th centuries when they selected the Liffey Estuary as their point of entry to the country as it provided relatively easy access to the central plains of Ireland. Trading with England and Europe followed which required port facilities, so the development of Dublin Port is inextricably linked to the development of Dublin City, so it is fair to say the origins of the Port go back over one thousand years. As a result, the modern organisation Dublin Port has a long and remarkable history, dating back over 300 years from 1707.

The original Port of Dublin was situated upriver, a few miles from its current location near the modern Civic Offices at Wood Quay and close to Christchurch Cathedral. The Port remained close to that area until the new Custom House opened in the 1790s. In medieval times Dublin shipped cattle hides to Britain and the continent, and the returning ships carried wine, pottery and other goods.

510 acres. The modern Dublin Port is located either side of the River Liffey, out to its mouth. On the north side of the river, the central part (205 hectares or 510 acres) of the Port lies at the end of East Wall and North Wall, from Alexandra Quay.

Dublin Port Company is a State-owned commercial company responsible for operating and developing Dublin Port.

Dublin Port Company is a self-financing, and profitable private limited company wholly-owned by the State, whose business is to manage Dublin Port, Ireland's premier Port. Established as a corporate entity in 1997, Dublin Port Company is responsible for the management, control, operation and development of the Port.

Captain William Bligh (of Mutiny of the Bounty fame) was a visitor to Dublin in 1800, and his visit to the capital had a lasting effect on the Port. Bligh's study of the currents in Dublin Bay provided the basis for the construction of the North Wall. This undertaking led to the growth of Bull Island to its present size.

Yes. Dublin Port is the largest freight and passenger port in Ireland. It handles almost 50% of all trade in the Republic of Ireland.

All cargo handling activities being carried out by private sector companies operating in intensely competitive markets within the Port. Dublin Port Company provides world-class facilities, services, accommodation and lands in the harbour for ships, goods and passengers.

Eamonn O'Reilly is the Dublin Port Chief Executive.

Capt. Michael McKenna is the Dublin Port Harbour Master

In 2019, 1,949,229 people came through the Port.

In 2019, there were 158 cruise liner visits.

In 2019, 9.4 million gross tonnes of exports were handled by Dublin Port.

In 2019, there were 7,898 ship arrivals.

In 2019, there was a gross tonnage of 38.1 million.

In 2019, there were 559,506 tourist vehicles.

There were 98,897 lorries in 2019

Boats can navigate the River Liffey into Dublin by using the navigational guidelines. Find the guidelines on this page here.

VHF channel 12. Commercial vessels using Dublin Port or Dun Laoghaire Port typically have a qualified pilot or certified master with proven local knowledge on board. They "listen out" on VHF channel 12 when in Dublin Port's jurisdiction.

A Dublin Bay webcam showing the south of the Bay at Dun Laoghaire and a distant view of Dublin Port Shipping is here
Dublin Port is creating a distributed museum on its lands in Dublin City.
 A Liffey Tolka Project cycle and pedestrian way is the key to link the elements of this distributed museum together.  The distributed museum starts at the Diving Bell and, over the course of 6.3km, will give Dubliners a real sense of the City, the Port and the Bay.  For visitors, it will be a unique eye-opening stroll and vista through and alongside one of Europe’s busiest ports:  Diving Bell along Sir John Rogerson’s Quay over the Samuel Beckett Bridge, past the Scherzer Bridge and down the North Wall Quay campshire to Berth 18 - 1.2 km.   Liffey Tolka Project - Tree-lined pedestrian and cycle route between the River Liffey and the Tolka Estuary - 1.4 km with a 300-metre spur along Alexandra Road to The Pumphouse (to be completed by Q1 2021) and another 200 metres to The Flour Mill.   Tolka Estuary Greenway - Construction of Phase 1 (1.9 km) starts in December 2020 and will be completed by Spring 2022.  Phase 2 (1.3 km) will be delivered within the following five years.  The Pumphouse is a heritage zone being created as part of the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project.  The first phase of 1.6 acres will be completed in early 2021 and will include historical port equipment and buildings and a large open space for exhibitions and performances.  It will be expanded in a subsequent phase to incorporate the Victorian Graving Dock No. 1 which will be excavated and revealed. 
 The largest component of the distributed museum will be The Flour Mill.  This involves the redevelopment of the former Odlums Flour Mill on Alexandra Road based on a masterplan completed by Grafton Architects to provide a mix of port operational uses, a National Maritime Archive, two 300 seat performance venues, working and studio spaces for artists and exhibition spaces.   The Flour Mill will be developed in stages over the remaining twenty years of Masterplan 2040 alongside major port infrastructure projects.

Source: Dublin Port Company ©Afloat 2020.