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Displaying items by tag: London Port Authority

#ArklowThames - This week Afloat reported on stories from the Strait of Dover and it is on the other side of the Kent coast that a new ship, part of the Arklow Shipping fleet was until yesterday at anchorage, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The newbuild Arklow Valour (2017/5,158dwt) is the fifth completed ‘V’ class dry-cargoship.The vessel had anchored off Margate on the north Kent coast before sailing last night to the Port of London. Arklow Valour was within the first hour of this month moored alongside Conways Berth at Erith.

Arklow Valour is under the Dutch flag and is managed by Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. based in Rotterdam. While upriver and opposite Tilbury Docks, a fleetmate but this time Irish flagged, Arklow Cadet (2016/5,085dwt) of Arklow Shipping Ltd was berthed at Bevans Wharf at Northfleet. The ship had sailed from Belfast Harbour. 

Both newbuilds are 87m long and were allotted berths on the south bank by the Port of London Authority. The PLA are responsible for operations covering 95 miles of the River Thames. In addition to maintaining commercial and leisure users safe, the protection and enhancement of the environment and promotion of trade and travel.

Last month, Arklow Valour had been towed from the inland shipyard of Royal Bodewes at Hoogezand along the canal to Delfzijl to enter the sea. At Westerbroek which is nearby to Hoogezand is the German owned yard of Frus-Smit that completed Arklow Cadet last year. The vessel is the first in a series of ‘C’ class cargoships.

It is at Delfzijl, a port on the Ems Estuary, that by a series of coincidences there has been recent focus on Irish shipping news stories. In addition to that of recent years, notably given all the newbuilds ordered by Arklow Shipping that have been built in this region.

Also in the coverage of these newbuilds have been the ships entering to the sea for the first time to carry out sea trials. These trials are also conducted from Emeshaven (including Arklow Valour) which is located outside of the estuary on the North Sea.

As alluded in the introduction, the Strait of Dover, is where on Monday the bitumen tanker, Iver Ability (former long-stay Dublin Bay anchorage caller) transited the world’s busiest shipping channel. The 12,497dwt Iver Ability had departed Irish waters bound for Delfzijl, but as reported yesterday was and currently remains at anchorage in Dutch waters.

Also reported at Delfzijl is where Corrib Shipping Group are now providing ship management of the Ziltborg. The 7,200dwt general cargosship was renamed for Dutch based owners, Wagenborg.

Ziltborg remains at the port but in a floating drydock having undergone work including repainting of company colours. The Dublin based group expect the new addition to enter service within weeks.

Published in Ports & Shipping

National Watersports Campus, Dun Laoghaire

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Stakeholders combined forces in 2019 to promote a project to improve the Harbour’s infrastructure resulting in improved access, job creation and greater tourism potential. 

A grant application to government made by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCoCo) assisted by stakeholders was successful with the announcement of a €400k feasibility study grant from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) in January 2020.

It meant plans for the €8m National Watersports Campus at Dun Laoghaire Harbour got the green light from Government and came a step closer to reality.

The project recognises deficits in the current set up in the harbour, proposing the construction of an all-tide publicly-accessible slipway (none currently in the Greater Dublin Area) as well as a marine services facility, providing a much-needed home for the supporting industry. 

The campus also seeks to provide a marketing framework to make boating more accessible to the general public.

The benefits of such an increase might be obvious for the Dun Laoghaire waterfront but there are other spin-offs for the harbour town in the creation of the sort of jobs that cannot be shipped abroad.

Centre for Community Watersports activity and public slipway

  • High-Performance coaching centre
  • Flexible Event Space for hosting national and international events
  • Multipurpose Building
  • Campus Marketing and Promotional Centre
  • Accommodation for Irish Sailing and Irish Underwater Council
  • Shared NGB Facility
  • Education Centre for schools, community groups and clubs
  • Proposed site – Carlisle Pier

Watersports Campus FAQs

Similar to the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, the watersports campus will provide quality, public, recreational and high-performance facilities for the many watersports participants. The Campus will considerably enhance the services currently provided by more than 30 clubs and activity centres to over 50,000 annual users of the harbour.

The passing of control of the harbour to DLRCC, the public appetite for a community benefitting project and the capital funding for sports infrastructure in the Project 2040 National Plan have aligned to create an opportunity to deliver this proposal.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) and the Irish Sailing Association (Irish Sailing) are the project leads, endorsed by the National Governing Bodies of other Irish watersports and clubs and activity providers.

The National Sports Policy, published in 2018, established the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) to provide Exchequer support for sports facility projects. In some cases, these may be projects where the primary objective will be to increase active participation in sport. In other cases, these may be venues where the focus is more related to high-performance sport.

Government has allocated at least €100m over the term to 2027 to successful applicant projects.

The Watersports Campus was one of seven successful applicants for Stream 1 funding allowing planning to commence on the project design and feasibility. €442,000 has been granted in this phase.

NThe project will provide for a municipally-owned public access facility to include a small craft slipway that is accessible at all stages of the tide (currently none in public ownership in the greater Dublin area), storage and lock-up resources, watersports event management space, a high-performance centre and NGB accommodation.

The project aims to enhance the profile of Dun Laoghaire as a major international venue for maritime events, shows and conferences. Establish Dun Laoghaire as the 'go-to place' for anything marine – generating revenues Create employment in the county - attract businesses, visitors and events. Grow the market for watersports Promote the services of activity providers to the public. Complement the plan to develop Dun Laoghaire as a 'destination.'

As of January 1 2021, The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has approved the applicant project and DLRCC are expected to appoint a team to further advance the project.

©Afloat 2020