#ShippingReview – Jehan Ashmore reviews the shipping scene over the last fortnight and where among the stories are outlined below.

At a Sino-Irish business seminar, director of the IMDO Liam Lacey spoke of the 'challenges and opportunities in the aviation and maritime leasing sectors and the implications for Ireland and China’.

Irish exports saw a hike of 20% to just over €111bn in 2015 boosted by the pharma and medical sectors, that drove the trade surplus to a record level.

Shannon Foynes Port Company tonnage throughput in 2015 almost reached the peak of the last decade and is evidence of a recovery taking hold in the regions.

The Department of Transport has issued details of new SOLAS requirements for the verification of the gross mass of shipping containers following concerns in the industry internationally over mis-declaration of container weights.

An Irish-owned ship was detained by Arab coalition forces on suspicion of smuggling arms to Yemen.

A trailing suction hopper dredger is kept busy clearing the shipping channel on Waterford Estuary between Belview Port and the open sea.

#ShippingReview – Jehan Ashmore reviews the shipping scene over the last fortnight where among the stories are outlined below.

Dublin Port posts record year for cargo in 2015, where trade growth year-on-year was 6.4% and total throughput was 32.8 million gross tonnes.

Also experiencing positive growth last year the Port of Cork & Bantry Bay Port reached a total of 11 million tonnes. Total trade traffic for Cork reached 9.8 million tonnes while Bantry Bay Port Company recorded 1.1 million tonnes in 2015, slightly down on last year.

P&O Ferries close the seasonal Larne-Troon route following a comprehensive reviews of its options.

d’Amico Tankers Limited (Ireland) sold the Cielo di Salerno for US$13,000,000. The 36,032dwt handysize product tanker was sold last month to SW Cap Ferrat Shipping LLC based in the Marshal Islands.

The Baltic Dry Index plunged to a record amid signs of slowing economic growth in China that’s also hurting the nation’s stock market.

#ShippingReview – Jehan Ashmore reviews the shipping scene over the last fortnight where among the stories are outlined below.

The World's largest pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessel, Höegh Target, with a capacity for 8,500 car equivalent units departed Dublin Port in late December.

President Michael D Higgins signed the Harbours Bill into law on Christmas Day, the first time a President has signed legislation in to law on that day.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested more details as it assesses Dublin Port's plans to dump 10 million tonnes of "seabed material" in the Irish Sea off Howth.

Dundalk Port could soon be controlled by Louth County Council following the signing of the Harbours Bill by President Higgins.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where among the stories are outlined below.

A well-known name in the Irish shipping industry, Burke Shipping, the marine agency and logistical services company changed name this month to become the Doyle Shipping Group (DSG).

In this year’s Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey, Belfast Harbour achieved platinum status, the highest scoring level. The award was announced just before COP21 climate change began in Paris.

The Minister for Transport announced the postponement of signing the transfer of Port of Galway to Galway City Council for at least 18 months. The move was welcomed by Galway Chamber.

The Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) has called on the shipping industry at COP21 to reach an agreement on a market-based measure for carbon reduction or risk having rules enforced.

Dublin Port Company will join UNCTAD/TrainForTrade programme in the juries to assess dissertation deliveries of 28 middle managers from Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

2015 has been significant for Port of Cork Company. Trade traffic has been performing well as over €8 million tonnes of cargo moving in and out of the port to date.

Arklow View, second of 10 newbuilds cargoships ordered for Arklow Shipping is to be launched next week without an official christening ceremony so not to disrupt the yard’s busy workload.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene as outlined below.

The leadship of the Royal Bodewes built 5,100dwt Trader (V-class) cargoship's, Arklow Vale was handed over to Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. following sea trials off the Dutch coast. The 89m newbuild made her maiden delivery voyage from to Ghent, Belgium.

The Maritime Services Company of the Year went to Irish Continental Group (ICG) container & terminal devisions at the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) Export Industry Awards. The award was sponsored by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).

Shipping volumes in Republic of Ireland ports rose by 12% in Q3 of 2015 when compared to same period in 2014, revealed the iShipIndex published by the IMDO.

Ardmore Shipping Corporation had an Asian double delivery, as two product / chemical tankers were handed over from separate yards. The 49,999dwt Ardmore Chippewa built in South Korea and from Japan, the 25,233dwt Ardmore Seahawk.

The second of the Royal Bodewes built class cargoships, Arklow View (yard no. 722) for Arklow Shipping’s Dutch division (see above), made notable progress at the shipyard as the fore and aft sections were joined to form the hull.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where among the stories are outlined below.

Irish Continental Group (ICG) has acquired four lo-lo containerships for €24.2 million.

A large UK harbour tug firm, SMS Towage takes delivery of another tug for its Belfast operations.

UK liner agency, Kestrel Liner Agencies (Ireland) Ltd will open its first office in Dublin and soon offices in Cork and Belfast.

In the latest series of ‘V’ class cargoships on order to Arklow Shipping’s Dutch division, the leadship newbuild Arklow Vale has carried out her first sea-trials. Since this report, Afloat updates that the 89 metre newbuild carried out trials off Eemshaven in the north-east of the Netherlands.

Dublin Port is the winner of the 2015 ESPO Award on Societal Integration of Ports in recognition of its strategies in making schools and universities aware of their local port and its activities.

ICG group's operating profit in Q3 for this year are €34.2 million compared to €24.0 million in the same period in 2014.

Stena Arctica, the world’s largest oil tanker with an ice class 1A super certification is undergoing a major refit for Stena Bulk at Harland & Wolff, Belfast.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where among the stories are outlined below.

Irish Continental Group division, EUCON has completed an upgrade programme of its container fleet with the introduction of 200 new 45ft units.

A year after the closure of the Stena HSS route, Dun Laoghaire Harbour witnessed a cargoship, Wilson Blyth (see photo above) that unloaded yet more fermentation tanks for Guinness St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin.

Landlocked headquartered ro-ro operator, CLdN RoRo SA announced they are to add 12 new vessels to its existing 24-strong fleet serving routes in northern and western Europe.

The Irish Maritime Forum heads to Cork and will look at "Success through synergy – an innovative & dynamic approach to the future". The event takes place at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy on September 25th.

In an important day for Arklow Shipping, the first of 10 newbuilds of 5,100dwat, Arklow Vale was launched in a spectacular fashion at the Royal Bodewes shipyard in the Netherlands.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene as outlined in the following stories below.

Shipping and port activity in the Republic of Ireland rose by 3% in the second quarter of 2015 when compared to the same period of 2014, according to the latest quarter of the iShip Index* published today by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).

An incredible overhead time-lapse video of the oil tanker Galway Fisher arriving at Galway Harbour recently, showed the skipper’s skills in edging into the tight confines of Dun Aengus Dock.

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) annual conference will be held in Dublin in 2016. The 13th year of the conferenece will be hosted by the Dublin Port Company and is to take place on 2-3 of June.

#Ports&ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where Irish ports and shipping volumes rose 6% in Q1 of 2015 compared to same period of 2014 according to the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).

EPSO presented its views on Mid-Term review of 2011 White Paper on transport, the organisation said they must feed the review process started by European Commission which should result in "adjustment" or "review" of the strategic document of 2011.

CMA-CGM implements a War Risk Surcharge on all shipments to Hodeidah, Yemen, with charges of US$300 per 20-foot and $600 per 40-foot containers.

Up to €40 million is sought from investors to commit in a major upgrade of Rosslare Europort. The investment will equip the port operated by Iarnród Éireann to handle the ships of the future.

#Ports&ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene.

Among the stories covered was that Port volumes in 2014 increased more than 2% as measured by iShip Index*, the IMDO's volume index for all freight traffic of the Republic of Ireland.

Around 10,000 new jobs could be generated in marine and maritime sectors of the economy by 2020 according to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.

The Irish Chamber of Shipping have been represented onto the Cork Institute of Technology's Governing Body with the appointment of Captain Dave Hopkins.