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Displaying items by tag: Nautilus Explorer

Since his departure from Palermo about a month ago, Sergio Davi in his Nautilus Explorer RIB has already covered more than 2,500 nautical miles of the 7,000 planned to complete his ‘Ice RIB Challenge’ from Palermo to New York.

The long-distance veteran has already crossed the Bay of Biscay and been welcomed by the Port de Camaret-sur-Mer, on the west coast south of Brest, with his Nuova Jolly Prince 38cc inflatable boat, powered by two Suzuki DF350A outboards.

More recently, his departure from Lochboisdale in the Outer Hebrides of western Scotland has completed his round of stopovers in these isles supported by Suzuki GB, which saw Davi welcomed at Newlyn Harbour in Cornwall as well as by the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire and Belfast Harbour Marina.

Nautilus Explorer RIB

His stop in Dublin Bay was particularly exciting as he was greeted on arrival in Dun Laoghaire by a representative of the Italian Embassy relaying the personal greeting of Ambassador Paolo Serpi, and journalist Concetto La Malfa from italvideonewstv.net, an Italian online magazine in Ireland. While in Dublin, Davi also met Ambarish Keenan, a representative of the Peace Run movement.

Yesterday the Nautilus Explorer was making good progress to Torshavn in the Faroe Islands, where it was expected yesterday evening (Saturday 27 July). This is a key refuelling stop before the big push across the far North Atlantic to Iceland.

The crossing will be an important test both for the boat and engines and also for the equipment that the captain has brought with him.

Keep up with Davi’s Ice RIB Challenge at his website www.ciuriciurimare.com or via social media, on Facebook at Sergio Davi Adventures and Instagram @sergiodavi_adventures. In addition you can search for ‘Sergio Davi’ in the iOS Ap Store and Google Play Store for the official app to follow in real time.

Published in RIBs

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!