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Drogheda Port Company are inviting applications for the position of Harbour Master for the Port of Drogheda.

Drogheda Port is the largest commercial regional port in Ireland, handling over 1.5 million tonnes of cargo per annum and over 1000 ship movements.

The Co. Louth port is projecting significant future growth and is embarking on ambitious development plans over the next number of years which will see substantial investment in the port’s infrastructure, handling capacity, technology, and safety systems.

The position of Harbour Master is key to the safe and efficient management of the Port, he\she is a member of the Executive Management Team, reporting to the Chief Executive.

The Harbour Master’s primary operational responsibilities are to ensure the Port’s marine, cargo and estate management activities operate safely and efficiently.

The role requires an in-depth understanding of ship manoeuvering principles over a wide range of vessel types/class within a confined tidal waterway.

Further details can be obtained by emailing: [email protected]

Published in Jobs

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) represents the port authorities, port associations and port administrations of the seaports of the 22 Member States of the European Union and Norway at EU political level.

ESPO has also observer members in Iceland, Israel, Ukraine and UK.

The organisation is the principal interface between the European sea port managing bodies and the European institutions. In addition, ESPO is a knowledge network which brings together port professionals with a view of exchanging good practices and developing pro-active bottom-up initiatives in different fields.

We are looking for a: Senior Policy Advisor in the field of environment, sustainable development, cruise and ferry.

The person will monitor EU policy and legislative developments in the fields of environment, sustainable development, cruise and ferry and will be coordinating the EcoPorts network, the main environmental initiative of the European port sector.

Responsibilities include intelligence gathering, preparation of ESPO policy views and lobby actions, coordination of the relevant technical committees and working groups, promotion of management tools as well as liaison activities with relevant research networks. The ideal candidate will also be responsible for coordinating ESPO’s bottom up initiatives in the field of environment and cruise and ferry.

The ideal candidate should:

Combine a good background and practical experience on environmental management with an understanding of and/or outspoken interest in EU ports, shipping and/or transport sector; technical expertise and/or additional expertise on energy issues and policy will be considered as a plus;

  • Be eager to become passionate about ports, environmental and climate issues;
  • Be familiar with the functioning of the European institutions and have a good insight in EU policy making;
  • Be a positive person, strong networker and communicator with the ability to translate complex technical and legal issues in easy-to-understand language;
  • Be a motivator in encouraging ESPO members to participate in ESPO’s bottom-up initiatives;
  • Be able to work independently, well-organised and cope with multiple tasks and deadlines;
  • Be flexible and happy to work in a small team;
  • Be ready to travel on a regular basis;
  • Have an outstanding command of the English language, both written and spoken; being fluent in different other EU languages is considered an asset.

We are offering you a challenging and varied job in a stimulating, informal, flexible and European working environment together with a competitive salary and a set of additional benefits. It is a full-time post, with a contract of indeterminate duration, to start preferably on 1 June 2020.

How to apply? Send your letter of motivation, together with a detailed CV by Monday 23 March 2020 to the attention of Isabelle Ryckbost, Secretary General, ESPO, by mail to: [email protected].

All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.

More information about ESPO and EcoPorts can be found on: www.espo.be and www.ecoports.com

Published in Ports & Shipping

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!