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Displaying items by tag: Motoryacht

#MotorYacht – A US training ship T.S. Empire State made a 'sail-past' in Dublin Bay this morning, however Dublin Port welcomed Katrion, an impressive three-decked 38m motoryacht, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Featuring a Jacuzzi high up on the uppermost deck above the bridge, the Cayman Islands flagged motoryacht is currently advertised for sale through www.y.co for €12,900,000.

She had docked at the 100-berth Poolbeg Yacht Boat Club & Marina having sailed overnight from Waterford. Beforehand she had cruised along the south and south-west coast in recent weeks.

The Georgetown registered vessel built in 2003 is from the Dutch yard of Feadship - which has completed more than 250 such luxurious vessels for wealthy clients globally.

Her interiors are by the hand of Michael Mcquiston / Art-Line Interiors and her last refit is understood to have been in 2008.

Guests have the use of four staterooms, a main salon, living and dining room spaces. Outdoor dining is available on the spacious deck and aft-decks.

Further luxurious facilities are to be found in accommodation for 8-guests, with a master bedroom and master-bathroom, a VIP-guestroom, guest-double and a guest twin. A crew of 7 cater for the needs of discerning clientele.

It is also undestood that her main engines of 2 X 620 HP generate a cruising speed of 11 knots though is capable of 14 knots.

Should dry-land be yearned for after travelling across Ocean's, in which she has a range of 3,000 nautical miles, there are custom-bikes already on board and an awaiting high-speed tender to whisk you ashore.

 

Published in Dublin Bay

#LuxuryFeadship - A luxury motoryacht the Katrion (2003/401grt) is berthed at Cork City Marina, the 10-guest, 38.6m Feadship built vessel is advertised for sale for just shy of €13m, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Cayman Islands flagged Feadship, a Dutch yard with more than 250 superyachts launched, has been in port for around a week though it is understood the motoryacht completed in 2003 is to head to Dingle.

Visitors such as the size of Katrion are accommodated on the outside berth of the Cork City Marina pontoon, where larger craft drawing up to 4m are moored alongside. The handsome and well proportioned-looking visitor (click for further details) has a draft of 2.5m.

Cork City Marina has 150m length of berthage which occupies an area between South Custom House Quay and Albert Quay. At the adjoining quay heading downriver are the more frequently used South Jetties from where commercial shipping docks close to the city-centre.

An example is Arklow Fortune (2007/2,998grt), which today is berthed at the privately owned quayside which mainly is used for grain imports to supply the nearby silos.

Other merchant vessels can also berth on the far side along the northern channel of the River Lee, though such activity is moreso for visiting vessels, among them Naval ships or those requiring lay-over periods.

One of the largest ships in recent years to berth along this stretch was at Horgan Quay, where Fastnet Line's Julia, the former Cork-Swansea car-ferry was moored in advance to starting the Welsh link. Currently she serves as a floating accommodation ship for a wind-farm installation off Cumbria.

Published in Cork Harbour

#MotorYacht – The impressive 177 foot charter motoryacht M.Y. Fortunate Sun is paying a visit to Poolbeg Marina, Dublin Port and as previously reported she called last week to Cork City Marina, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Constructed with a steel-hull the 851 tonnes yacht has luxurious facilities for 10 guests accommodated in 7 suites and has a crew of 12 crew. The Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club;s 100-berth marina has seen similar vessels moor along the outer pontoon, among them the 87 foot Bikini registered Cary Ali which could take 8 guests.

In addition the marina which caters for local yachts and pleasure craft also welcomes craft to attend events. Notably, the Old Gaffers Association's 50th Anniversary that was held in June.

 

Published in Irish Marinas

Ferry & Car Ferry News The ferry industry on the Irish Sea, is just like any other sector of the shipping industry, in that it is made up of a myriad of ship operators, owners, managers, charterers all contributing to providing a network of routes carried out by a variety of ships designed for different albeit similar purposes.

All this ferry activity involves conventional ferry tonnage, 'ro-pax', where the vessel's primary design is to carry more freight capacity rather than passengers. This is in some cases though, is in complete variance to the fast ferry craft where they carry many more passengers and charging a premium.

In reporting the ferry scene, we examine the constantly changing trends of this sector, as rival ferry operators are competing in an intensive environment, battling out for market share following the fallout of the economic crisis. All this has consequences some immediately felt, while at times, the effects can be drawn out over time, leading to the expense of others, through reduced competition or takeover or even face complete removal from the marketplace, as witnessed in recent years.

Arising from these challenging times, there are of course winners and losers, as exemplified in the trend to run high-speed ferry craft only during the peak-season summer months and on shorter distance routes. In addition, where fastcraft had once dominated the ferry scene, during the heady days from the mid-90's onwards, they have been replaced by recent newcomers in the form of the 'fast ferry' and with increased levels of luxury, yet seeming to form as a cost-effective alternative.

Irish Sea Ferry Routes

Irrespective of the type of vessel deployed on Irish Sea routes (between 2-9 hours), it is the ferry companies that keep the wheels of industry moving as freight vehicles literally (roll-on and roll-off) ships coupled with motoring tourists and the humble 'foot' passenger transported 363 days a year.

As such the exclusive freight-only operators provide important trading routes between Ireland and the UK, where the freight haulage customer is 'king' to generating year-round revenue to the ferry operator. However, custom built tonnage entering service in recent years has exceeded the level of capacity of the Irish Sea in certain quarters of the freight market.

A prime example of the necessity for trade in which we consumers often expect daily, though arguably question how it reached our shores, is the delivery of just in time perishable products to fill our supermarket shelves.

A visual manifestation of this is the arrival every morning and evening into our main ports, where a combination of ferries, ro-pax vessels and fast-craft all descend at the same time. In essence this a marine version to our road-based rush hour traffic going in and out along the commuter belts.

Across the Celtic Sea, the ferry scene coverage is also about those overnight direct ferry routes from Ireland connecting the north-western French ports in Brittany and Normandy.

Due to the seasonality of these routes to Europe, the ferry scene may be in the majority running between February to November, however by no means does this lessen operator competition.

Noting there have been plans over the years to run a direct Irish –Iberian ferry service, which would open up existing and develop new freight markets. Should a direct service open, it would bring new opportunities also for holidaymakers, where Spain is the most visited country in the EU visited by Irish holidaymakers ... heading for the sun!