#Ports&ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where among the stories covered was that of Finnlines acquisition of ro-ro freighter Dorset from Cobelfret, which spent a brief spell late last year on their Irish operations.

The 225th anniversary of Drogheda Port Company was marked last month as the origins of the port date to 19th of April 1790 when the very first board meeting was held in the town's Tholsel.

At 290 feet in length, Wilson Dublin became the largest ever ship to berth at the pier in Dingle Harbour from where 3,500 tonnes of stone chipping was loaded from Corca Dhuibhne quarry for the UK roads construction sector. The cargoship sailed to London to discharge at Gravesend on the Thames.

The IMDO released the annual Irish Maritime Transport Economist report that showed in 2014, port volume increases of more than 2%, as measured by the iShip Index*, tracking Ireland's economic recovery. 

Commenting on the reports traffic figures IMDO Director Liam Lacey said, "Irish ports coped comfortably with the growth recorded in 2014. Total volumes have not yet reached the levels recorded prior to the economic downturn in 2007 and at 914 points, port traffic remains more than 12% behind the high-water mark of 1,042 points recorded in 2007.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD will 'shortly' publish a new ports Bill to transfer to local authorities control of five Ports of Regional Significance – Drogheda, Dún Laoghaire, Galway, New Ross and Wicklow. Details of the enactment of this Bill represent an important milestone in National Ports Policy.

#Ports&ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where Ardmore Shipping was delivered a 25,000dwt tanker newbuild, Ardmore Cheyenne from a Japanese shipyard.

Phase one of work continues on a major €50m investment of Foynes Port to transform the Shannon Estuary port into one of the biggest bulk harbours in Europe.

Rotterdam's new Maasvlakte 2 (MV2) container-terminal run by AMPT has been hitting back over claims of a slower than expected rollout of its operations with delays causing current traffic congestion at Europe's biggest container port.

The International Association of Port Cities (AIVP) will host its AGM for 2015 in Dublin next month ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend. 'Working Waterfront' is the topic of the two-day meeting.

Due to high levels of interest in the inaugural Maritime Industry Awards (18 June) the entry deadline has been extended for companies to submit in the award categories to 23 April.

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

Arklow Breeze the final of six bulk cargoships was launched from a Dutch shipyard for Arklow Shipping Ltd. The 119m hull designed with green credentials to improve operating efficiency without compromising on cargo loads was given a sideways launch from the Westerbroek yard.

The above footage shows the stern of the newbuild registered in Rotterdam as the 8,660dwt cargoship is part of ASL's Dutch division fleet, Arklow Shipping Netherlands B.V.

Compare the footage to that of an earlier sister Arklow Bay (click here) which showed her launch as seen from a three-quarter angled bow view. In addition to more about this cargoship which made a recent port cargo record see below.

'Lusitania: Life, Loss, Legacy' is an exhibition at the Merseyside Maritime Museum to highlight little-known data that changes the commonly used figures of the last 100 years, when referencing the crew and passengers on Lusitania's final voyage.

Over Easter, a £6million refit of Stena Line's fleet on the north Irish Sea is to be completed with the upgrade of Stena Precision at Belfast's Harland & Wolff shipyard.

The inaugural Maritime Industry Awards to recognise and celebrate the most innovative companies in the Irish maritime sector are to take place on 18th June.

The now one-year old Arklow Bay sailed from Belfast to deliver a record shipment of stone to the UK east coast port of Ipswich.

#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where dredging related works carried out last year in Arklow Harbour were completed this week.

This saw the capping of a pit spoil site in Arklow Bay by the trailing-suction dredger UKD Orca.

On the dredger's return to Merseyside she passed offshore of Wicklow Port where Leine was exporting recycled metals, while Ceg Cosmos had logged timber felled from the foothills of Ben Nevis, Scotland.

Returning to the Irish Sea where sea-links between Ireland and Wales are not exclusively the preserve of ferries. As the only other shipping route between these two Celtic nations is that of a container route connecting the capitals of Dublin and Cardiff. The service is operated by the 195 TEU capacity Coronel. 

Irish Ambassador to Germany, Michael Collins launched an Irish Maritime Development Office event in Hamburg.  Among the speakers was Rebecca Wardell, Business Development Manager (IMDO) who spoke about the Irish Tonnage Tax to the German shipping industry.

Lysblink Seaways which ran aground off the Scottish coast last month is undergoing repairs on the Clyde at a dry-dock in Greenock.

#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene.

Stricken cargoship Lysblink Seaways was to be moved to a safe haven after the 120m-long vessel originally ran aground near Ardnamuchan Point in Scotland's West Highlands while en route from Belfast to Norway.

Munkebo Maersk, a 195,000 ton Triple E-class became the largest ship ever to sail up the River Thames where the containership with a whopping 18,500 TEU capacity docked at DP World London Gateway, the UK's newest deep-sea port hub.

Irish ports and shipping volumes rose by 7% in the fourth quarter of 2014 when compared to the corresponding period of 2013. The figures from iShip Index were published by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).

The Irish Continental Group (ICG) appoints Mr. David Ledwidge to position of Chief Financial Officer. He joined ICG in 2006 following a career with accountants Deloitte.

Further news from ICG saw release of full-year Statement of results for 2014.

Arklow Breeze, is the final of six 8660dwt newbuilds for Arklow Shipping's Dutch division. The newbuild to be launched later this month at the Ferus Smit B.V. yard, features a cargo hull designed with 'green' credentials.

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

Rebecca Wardell, Business Development Manager of the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) addressed the Irish Maritime Law Association's Spring Lecture in a talk titled, 'Understanding the Irish tonnage tax regime'.

Italian international shipowner, D'Amico Group with offices in Dublin, announced delivery of their largest ship to date, the 'Handy-Cape' type vessel Cielo d'Italia.

Drogheda Port Company handled over 1.2m tonnes of cargo in 2014, an increase of 17% on 2013. The port outperformed the Irish port sector in terms of year on year growth for third year running.

The stricken Solent ship, Hoegh Osaka, a vehicle-carrier went to A&P Falmouth for repairs following discharge of vehicles in Southampton after her deliberate grounding on a sandbank last month.

Lysblink Seaways a cargsoship has run aground in Scotland, while en route from Belfast to Norway. The incident took place near Ardnamurchan Point in the West Highlands.

The IMDO released Q3 figures for 2014 that show container shipping volumes, Lo/Lo rose by 9% in Q3. Ro/Ro experienced a 6% growth and Break-Bulk grew by 16%. This is in contrast however to total traffic volumes by Irish ports which fell by 3% overall in Q3, when compared to the same period last year.

#Port&Shipping - Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where China had approved foreign-flagged to ply coastal waters under Beijing's pilot project to liberalise the country's cabotage restrictions.

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) meets the new EU Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc. Among the EPSO delegation was ESPO Vice Chair Eamonn O'Reilly, who is also the Chief Executive of Dublin Port.

Cammell Laird, the Merseyside shipyard completed a £49.5m major refit of Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Fort Victoria (A387), the yard's largest single contract in 2014 and since the 'cluster' contract began in 2008.

A massive containership which experienced engine problems while drifting off the West coast, Atlantic Companion took shelter in Bantry Bay to undergo repairs.

The Irish Institute of Master Mariners for the first time has elected a woman to lead the organisation.

#Ports&ShippingReview: Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where the Port of Cork  achieved a (PERS) Port Environmental Review System certification.

Among the other ports awarded the PERS certification was Moerdijk, the Dutch port which is to where Arklow Rally was bound this week having departed Dublin Port. The general cargo ship had docked in Alexandra Basin along with fleetmates Arklow Ruler and notably the 'green' newbuild Arklow Bay which features a 'bulb-less' bow to optimise hull performance in varying sea-states.

Port Cork Company is to embark on phase one of a €24m redevelopment of Bantry Harbour which will encourage more seaborne trade and cruise line business.

The EU TEN-T Programme will co-fund almost €2.5 million for studies on capacity development of Dublin Port.

#Ports&ShippingReview: Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where Stena Line close HSS operated Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead summer sailings leaving the Irish port with a revived excursion service to Howth.

For the second year running, Seatruck Ferries voted Irish Sea Shipping Line of 2014 at the Export & Freight Transport & Logistics Awards.

French container shipping giant CMA CGM signs three major trade agreements.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Irish ports of Dublin and Cork.

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) enhance cooperation between organisations and cruise and ferry ports.

One of the UK's largest port owners, Peel Ports Group has Irish Exporters Association (IEA) membership.

Cork Dockyard win Irish Lights contract in face off stiff competition from UK and French yards.

A sideways launch of Arklow Beacon, brings to four out of six of Arklow Shipping's newbuild series of 'green' hull designed cargoships.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where an Ireland-Libyan serving livestock-carrier, Express 1 which has been in Fowey since February following detention has been released by UK authorities.

Peel Ports Group operates of Port of Liverpool has dismissed claims of delays and budget overrun of the £300m Liverpool2 container terminal project which is to expand the Royal Seaforth Container Terminal and enable docking some of the world's biggest containerships post Panama Canal widening.

The Stena Group houseflag is flown on a diverse range of vessels, from large oil tankers and even tallships plus of course ferries, among them the newest member of the Stene Line fleet, the former Celtic Link ro-pax Celtic Horizon. The 27,522 tonnes ferry (soon to be renamed Stena Horizon) launched this week the operators first ever direct Ireland-Continental link.

Stena Line which also operates on the North Channel is where there are reports of major job losses which have been denied by the company. Clydebank based Northern Marine Management which is a Stena Line owned company, have been switching the Irish Sea ferry fleet to NMM as part of an effort to stave off a decade of loss-making services by implementing measures on operating costs.

Dublin Port welcomed Discovery (1971/20,135grt) the first cruise caller for 2014, the 700-passenger vessel chartered to Cruise & Maritime Voyages had arrived from Belfast Harbour from where she too was an inugural cruise caller this season. She is one of around 90 visitors so far scheduled to visit Dublin Port.

The newest and largest Arklow Shipping Ltd newbuild, Arklow Spray of 34,919dwt departed Liverpool's Royal Seaforth Container Terminal to Antwerp. The Irish flagged 182m vessel was delivered this year from South Korean shipbuilder's and brings to around 45 ships in the dry-cargo fleet.