#€1mPierWorks – Works costing in the region of €1 million at Dun Laoghaire Harbour are currently been carried out, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The works involve repairs and maintenance on the public amenity of the East Pier and at the Carlisle Pier, from where only small cruiseships can berth.

A 100m stretch of the lower East Pier due to the spate of storm damage is under repair and works are due to be completed this month part as part of the rolling maintenance programme.

According to Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company these works on the popular pier will have minimum impact and that walkers will be able to stroll instead along the upper level of the East Pier.

Works at Carlisle Pier are to faciliate the continued berthing of the smaller cruiseships and this requires repairs to the outer piles and replacement fenders at berth no.2.

The upgrading of the pier is expected to be completed in June.

This season the harbour is scheduled to welcome eight calls in total. Of these calls, two are larger and deeper draft cruiseships that will anchor offshore while the remaining six callers will berth at Carlisle Pier.

#CruiseLinersDublin - A major cruise conference being held in Dublin later this year as previously reported on Afloat, is expected to significantly bolster the number of cruise liners visiting this country.

The Irish Examiner writes that Cruise Europe, an organisation representing 120 ports and associate members on the continent, is to hold its annual three-day conference in the capital in June.

Cruise Europe’s goal is to have cruise companies, ports and likely destinations working together in a unified manner to ensure safe and enhanced experiences for cruise passengers.

Chairman of Cruise Europe, Captain Michael McCarthy — who is also commercial manager of the Port of Cork — said he is excited at the prospect of Dublin Port hosting the conference. He said it was a great opportunity to showcase Ireland to the cruise industry. To read more, click here.

#SecondSplash - Arklow View was launched without official ceremony yesterday, despite this the second cargoship represents a significant order for Arklow Shipping as a further eight newbuilds are in the pipeline, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The absence of a traditional ship naming proceeding for yard no. 722 was according to Royal Bodewes to do with not disrupting the busy workload at the yard. It is also understood that the facility at Hoogezand, near Groningen was not open to the public, though outside of the yard on the canal edge excited onlookers clearly enjoyed the visual spectactcle as evident in the footage above.

Arklow View was built to the yard's own design, the Bodewes 5,100dwt Trader Series or 'V' class given the letter is used as the sisters naming theme. She is to join ASL's subsidiary Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. located in Rotterdam.

It is almost three months to the day when leadship, Arklow Vale was launched with a traditional naming ceremony. On that occasion, she was christened with guests in attendence (see video from link above). This was followed with the customary smashing of a bottle on the bow.

On related matters the bow incorporate lines to minimise wave friction and consequently reduce on energy costs. The hull is 89 metres in length and the hold has a total capacity of 6258m3 / 221,000ft3. 

#BargeScrubbers – In order to meet new environmental requirements a number of ships are being fitted with catalytic exhaust ‘scrubber’ systems or plugging into shore-based electrical grids. Ships Monthly, however reports that in California, where exhaust emission regulations are exceedingly severe, a barge-mounted scrubbing system has been brought into play for ships not yet fitted with the devices.

For more details on the barge as seen photographed alongside a containership at the Port of Long Beach, click here. This containership is one of around 470 operated by the MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) Ltd, the second largest container line in the world.

Afloat adds, that MSC (Ireland) which operates a feeder weekly Dublin-Antwerp service, is where the Belgium port is a major transhipment hub for worldwide trade lanes. An example of one of their containerships that has called to Dublin Port is MSC Lieselotte (1983/21,586grt) and when in Antwerp, she berths at the Delwedok.

Considerably larger fleetmates berth at the port's MSC Home Terminal, this dedicated terminal at the Delwaide Dock is MSC’s north European hubport.

In total the MSC fleet intake capacity is over 2.4 million TEU. The company has 421 offices in 145 countries and a staff of 30,000 around the world.

For the third consecutive year, MSC (UK) won the prestigious ‘Container Line of the Year’ award at the 2015 Lloyd’s Loading List Global Freight Awards that were held last month.

#Burke2Doyle - Burke Shipping, the marine agency and logistical services company will be changing name to the Doyle Shipping Group (DSG) with effect as of next week, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The date for the name change is Monday, 7 December, which is just over a year ago to the day when Burke Shipping Group, the principal operating subsidiary of the Doyle Group, acquired Greenore Port, Co Louth in December, 2014. 

According to reports at the time, the port purchase price was understood to be in the region of €5 million, and the deal represented the first significant port to be entirely privately-owned in the republic. The port has since seen investment in new quayside upgrade to allow larger vessels to dock, notably Smart Tina, following extensive dredging works. 

The group headed by cousins Connor Doyle and Frank Doyle, also has operations across a broad spectrum of industries including, agri-feed, renewable energy, manufacturing and offshore oil.

Origins to the company date to 1886, when the cousin’s grandfather founded D.F. Doyle Stevedoring in Cork. More than a century later, the family-owned group has expanded with offices located in all the major Irish ports and a workforce of over 300 people.

The change will see the introduction of DSG corporate branding been rolled out across the group over the coming weeks. Also, the renaming coincides with the amalgamation of their Cork based companies into the group, including Cork Dockyard and Marine Transport Services.

Both these companies are located at Rushbrooke near Cobh, from were among the engineering activities of the 44-acre dockyard are ship-repairing, marine conversion and fabrication.

As for Marine Transport Services, they operate and hire tugs/workboats, a car ferry service trading as Cross River Ferries in the centre of Cork Harbour. In addition to running passenger boat tours from Cobh to Spike Island.

#IMDOreview -The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) returns with its Weekly Market Review and among the following stories are outlined below.

Irish Maritime News: Irish Continental Group Purchase Four Containerships -The Dublin headquartered Irish Continental Group as reported by loadstar.ie, took advantage of weak market conditions to snap up the 980 teu Elbfeeder, Elbtrader and Elbcarrier, paying just $21.8m for the seven-year-olds, from their German KG owner, and $5m for the 2005-built 800 teu Jork Ranger.

For further details on the acquisition as previously reported on Afloat.ie, click here.

Global Maritime News: United States Government Increase Maritime Security in Southeast Asia - The United States is boosting maritime securityassistance to Southeast Asia, the White House announced on Tuesday.

In total, a statement commissioned by the White House said that the United States is committing $119 million in fiscal year 2015 (FY 2015) and will seek to provide $140 million in assistance the following year subject to appropriation, totalling over $250 million over two years.

Tanker Market: Canada Bans West Coast Crude Oil Tankers - Canada's new Liberal government has moved to implement a ban on crude oil tankers along the country's West Coast, a recently released directive to the country's new Minister of Transport Marc Garneau has revealed.

In the mandate letter, new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau directed the Transport Ministry to "Formalize a moratorium on crude oil tanker traffic on British Columbia's North Coast" - a region that includes a number of ports including Prince Rupert and Kitimat.

For more on the above stories and other news items, click the IMDO Market Review (Week 48) here.

In addition to further dedicated coverage visit Afloat.ie's Ports & Shipping news.

#ICGexportWinner - The Maritime Services Company of the Year went to the Irish Continental Group at the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) Export Industry Awards.

The award to ICG's container and terminal division was sponsored by the Irish Maritime Development Office. Nominees shortlisted in this category were DFDS, Dublin and IWT, Dublin.

In the Logistics Company of the Year sponsored by Rosslare Europort, GEODIS Ireland, was the ultimate winner. Nominees in the catagory included  Damco Logistics Ireland Limited, DHL Express, Kuehne + Nagel,  and McArdle Skeath.

The overall winner out of 12 categories for Exporter of the Year Award went to Combilift, the Monaghan forklift based manufacturer.

This year marked the 15th IEA Industry Export Awards that attracted over 500 guests. Tom Hayes T.D., Minister of State for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provided a keynote address.

Also attending were Senator Mary White, Ambassadors and Dignitaries Sent from my iPad General at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with Ivan Yates as MC during the gala dinner held in the National Convention Centre Dublin.

The awards are paramount for highlighting Irish exporters who have excelled in their sector and to highlight those companies who have been fundamental to Ireland’s success. The Export Industry Awards are organised by the IEA to recognise the remarkable achievements of companies working in the export industry

#MaidenVoyage- Arklow Vale, the newest addition to Arklow Shipping's Dutch division has been handed over to her owners following builders sea trials, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The newbuild departed Delfzijl on her maiden voyage to the inland port of Ghent in neighbouring Belgium.

The leadship of 10 newbuild 'V' class cargoships on order from Royal Bodewes yard in the Netherlands, Arklow Vale now joins the Arklow Shipping Nederland B.V. fleet. She is to a design of the Bodewes 5,100dwt Trader Series and has a total hold capacity of 6258m3 / 221,000ft3.

Last week, Arklow Vale which is 89m (length overall) and has a gross tonnage of 2,999 carried out sea trials off Eemshaven on the Wadden Sea.

In order for sea trials to take place the Arklow Vale was towed from the the inland building yard of Royal Bodewes in Hoogezand outside Groningen and along connecting canals to Delfzijl. From there the Rotterdam registered newbuild entered the River Eems estuary on the Dutch-German border.

The distinctive bow of Arklow Vale has a straight-stem that slices the waves coupled by an upper slope to deflect wave resistance. In all the design is to reduce on energy costs.

A main engine consisting of a MaK 6M25 1740 kW with Siemens Gearbox and Berg controllable pitch propeller provides a speed of around 14.5 knots.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where among the stories are outlined below.

Irish Continental Group (ICG) has acquired four lo-lo containerships for €24.2 million.

A large UK harbour tug firm, SMS Towage takes delivery of another tug for its Belfast operations.

UK liner agency, Kestrel Liner Agencies (Ireland) Ltd will open its first office in Dublin and soon offices in Cork and Belfast.

In the latest series of ‘V’ class cargoships on order to Arklow Shipping’s Dutch division, the leadship newbuild Arklow Vale has carried out her first sea-trials. Since this report, Afloat updates that the 89 metre newbuild carried out trials off Eemshaven in the north-east of the Netherlands.

Dublin Port is the winner of the 2015 ESPO Award on Societal Integration of Ports in recognition of its strategies in making schools and universities aware of their local port and its activities.

ICG group's operating profit in Q3 for this year are €34.2 million compared to €24.0 million in the same period in 2014.

Stena Arctica, the world’s largest oil tanker with an ice class 1A super certification is undergoing a major refit for Stena Bulk at Harland & Wolff, Belfast.

#ICGinterimStatement - The Irish Continental Group (ICG), parent company of Irish Ferries released today it's Interim Management Statement for Q3, the three months up to the end of September, 2015.

Current trading

In the seasonally most significant quarter of the year, the three months to 30 September, the Group's revenue rose 10.4% to €105.5 million (2014: €95.6 million) while EBITDA rose to €38.6 million, compared with €28.4 million in the same quarter in 2014. Operating profit in the quarter was €34.2 million versus €24.0 million in the same period in 2014.

Summer trading has been strong with volume and revenue growth across the Group's two operating segments; Ferries and Container & Terminal. Group fuel costs in the quarter were €10.3 million (2014: €14.8 million) reflecting lower commodity prices partially offset by a stronger dollar and the amendment of marine environmental regulations requiring the Group to consume more expensive fuel grades.

Volumes 1 July - 7 November

In the period from 1 July 2015 to 7 November 2015 total passengers carried increased by 3%, while cars carried increased by 5%. In the RoRo freight market, Irish Ferries volumes were up 8% in the period.

Container freight volumes for the same period were up 7%. Units lifted at our container ports at Dublin and Belfast were up 51%, with underlying port lifts up 5% after adjusting for Belfast VT3 concession volumes in 2015.

Year to Date Volumes

Cumulatively, in the year to 7 November 2015, total passengers carried were up 3% at 1,530,100, while cars carried were up 6% at 362,900. RoRo freight volumes in the same period were up 10% on last year at 231,500 units.

Container freight volumes were up 3% at 247,500 teu. Units lifted at our container ports rose by 29% to 207,900 lifts, with underlying port lifts up 5% after adjusting for Belfast VT3 concession volumes in 2015.

Cumulative Financial Results to 30 September (unaudited)

Group revenue for the nine months to 30 September 2015 was €248.6 million (2014: €226.3 million), up 9.9%. Revenue in the Ferries division was up 10.8% compared with the comparable period in 2014, while in the Container & Terminal division cumulative revenue was up 8.3% year on year. EBITDA for the nine months was €64.1 million (2014: €42.4 million).

Operating profit for the nine months was €50.6 million compared with €29.2 million in the same period in 2014. Net debt at the end of September was €20.4 million compared with €33.7 million at 30 June 2015. Subsequent to the quarter end the interim dividend of €6.8 million was paid.

Other Developments

Following the award of the Services Concession for the operation of a combined container terminal at Victoria Terminal in Belfast Harbour, the consolidation of our existing container volumes at Belfast has been completed. Progress on developing volumes through Belfast and harnessing the efficiencies of a single terminal are continuing.

As previously reported Afloat, the Group has concluded agreements (on 27 October) for the acquisition of four container vessels at a total cost of €24.2 million, with delivery expected to complete during December. These vessels will be offered to the market on a charter basis.