How old is Galway port?

Galway was founded in the 13th century by the de Burgo family, and became an important seaport with sailing ships bearing wine imports and exports of fish, hides and wool.

How old is Galway bay?

Not as old as previously thought. Galway bay was once a series of lagoons, known as Loch Lurgan, plied by people in log canoes. Ancient tree stumps exposed by storms in 2010 have been dated back about 7,500 years.

What is the tonnage of the port?

It is about 660,000 tonnes as it is a tidal port.

Who is the harbourmaster of Galway port?

Capt Brian Sheridan, who succeeded his late father, Capt Frank Sheridan

When are the lock gates open?

The dock gates open approximately two hours before high water and close at high water subject to ship movements on each tide.

What's the biggest ship that can 'fit' in the harbour?

The typical ship sizes are in the region of 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes

Is renewable energy generating a lot of business for Galway port?

Turbines for about 14 wind projects have been imported in recent years, but the tonnage of these cargoes is light. A European industry report calculates that each turbine generates €10 million in locally generated revenue during construction and logistics/transport.

Is Galway a European cable location?

Yes, Iceland has selected Galway as European landing location for international telecommunications cables. Farice, a company wholly owned by the Icelandic Government, currently owns and operates two submarine cables linking Iceland to Northern Europe.

What's the update on the Galway port expansion plans?

It is "very much a live project", Harbourmaster Capt Sheridan says, and the Port of Galway board is "awaiting the outcome of a Bord Pleanála determination", he says.

Where does all the scrap go at Galway Port?

90% of the scrap steel is exported to Spain with the balance being shipped to Portugal. Since the pandemic, scrap steel is shipped to the Liverpool where it is either transhipped to larger ships bound for China.

Why is Galway Port exporting silage and the Irish farmers are crying out for it?

It might look like silage, but in fact, its bales domestic and municipal waste, exported to Denmark where the waste is incinerated, and the heat is used in district heating of homes and schools. It is called RDF or Refuse Derived Fuel and has been exported out of Galway since 2013.

When is the new ferry starting service from Galway?

The new ferry is arriving at Galway Bay onboard the cargo ship SVENJA. The vessel is currently on passage to Belem, Brazil before making her way across the Atlantic to Galway.

Is the Volvo Ocean Race coming back to Galway?

Two Volvo round world races have selected Galway for the prestigious yacht race route. Some 10,000 people welcomed the boats in during its first stopover in 2009, when a festival was marked by stunning weather. It was also selected for the race finish in 2012. The Volvo has changed its name and is now known as the "Ocean Race". Capt Sheridan says that once port expansion and the re-urbanisation of the docklands is complete, the port will welcome the "ocean race, Clipper race, Tall Ships race, Small Ships Regatta and maybe the America's Cup right into the city centre...".

When is Seafest coming back to Galway?

The pandemic was the reason why Seafest did not go ahead in Cork in 2020.Galway will welcome Seafest back after it calls to Waterford and Limerick, thus having been to all the Port cities.

Displaying items by tag: Cork coast

13th August 2021

ESB Exploring Three "Green Hydrogen" Storage Projects in Geoenergy Partnership

An ESB partnership aims to develop large scale storage for “green hydrogen” off the Cork coast which could meet up to ten per cent of current annual electricity consumption in Ireland.

Up to three terawatt-hours (TWh) of “green hydrogen” and hydrogen carriers could be stored if the project is licensed and given planning approval, ESB and dCarbonX have said.

“Green hydrogen” is produced by using renewable electricity such as wind to split water into its basic elements of hydrogen and oxygen.

“Green hydrogen” is described as a carbon-free gas that can be safely stored and used as a replacement fuel for heavy transport, shipping, industry and backup power generation.

“Decarbonising the electricity network and achieving Ireland’s goal of net-zero carbon by 2050 requires the large-scale development of green hydrogen from renewable sources,” the two companies have said.

This new project off Kinsale, Co Cork, with dCarbonX is one of several to identify and develop subseas energy storage offshore opportunities in Ireland.

Several months ago, the ESB announced plans to invest in a hydrogen facility as part of its redevelopment of the Moneypoint site in Clare into a renewable energy hub.

The companies have also proposed the development of a new “green hydrogen valley” around the Poolbeg peninsula in Dublin

The ESB says a proprietary evaluation of the depleted gas field reservoir around Kinsale took place earlier this year to identify the potential for large-scale storage of green hydrogen.

“Since then, a comprehensive work programme has begun, comprising subsurface analysis, mineralogy, capacity modelling, injection and withdrawal rates, compression, drilling evaluation, well design, retention assurance, monitoring, electrolysis and infrastructure tie-in,” the ESB says.

“Mirroring developments across Europe and globally, ESB recognises the role hydrogen will play in enabling a low carbon future,” ESB strategy manager for generation and trading Padraig O’Hiceadha said.

“Transforming sites – such as the recently decommissioned gas reservoirs at Kinsale Head – and repurposing reservoirs for green hydrogen can deliver large-scale sustainable energy storage for homes and businesses in the future,” he said.

“The Kinsale Head reservoirs hosted safe, secure and reliable offshore natural gas subsurface energy storage for many years, underpinning Ireland’s security of gas supply,” Dr John O’Sullivan, chief operating officer of dCarbonX, said

“Kinsale Head is the third Irish offshore location that we are assessing with ESB for green hydrogen storage and we look forward to providing further updates as appropriate,” O’Sullivan said.

The two companies said that the county Cork region is “ideally placed to be a renewable energy hub, having one of the largest natural harbours in the world”.

They have also highlighted Cork’s “excellent energy and transport connectivity, modern global manufacturing and service industries together with power stations, refinery and gas reception terminal”.

dCarbonX Ltd is a geo-energy company based in Dublin and London, which was established to develop subsurface hydrogen storage, carbon sequestration and geothermal baseload assets as part of the energy transition.

Published in Power From the Sea

Tagged under

Resumption of Naval Service Rescue Operation for Trawler off Cork Coast

Resumption of the Naval Service has taken place in a rescue operation for a trawler off Cork coast. Seven crew are on board the Ellie Adhamh which spent the night in seas off Bull Rock after losing power.

An Irish Naval Service vessel it is hoped to get a tow aboard a trawler stranded off the Cork coast with a crew of seven on board on Saturday morning.

The Wexford-registered trawler, Ellie Adhamh, lost power early on Friday morning 130km off the Bull Rock in west Cork while returning from a prawn fishing trip in the Porcupine Bank.

A major rescue operation was launched involving the Irish Coast Guard and the Naval Service and co-ordinated by the Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Valentia Island.

Force 4 westerly winds were whipping up big seas and a plan by a Bere Island tug, to go to assist the fishing vessel had to be abandoned after it was damaged by a large wave.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 from Shannon was then tasked to assist and proceeded to the scene but the captain and his crew opted to remain on the stricken fishing vessel.

Further reading reports The Irish Times.

Statement from the Coastguard issued at 12.30 on March 27 2021

Coast Guard co-ordinate rescue operation for trawler off Cork Coast

A fishing vessel that suffered a loss of power is being towed towards Bantry by the Naval ship LE George Bernard Shaw. The fishing vessel the ELLIE ADHAMH suffered a loss of power approximately 70 miles West of Bantry Bay on Friday morning and has been adrift .

The response is being coordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination centre at Valentia who initially tasked a Coast Guard Helicopter to the scene. The crew declined an offer to have some of the crew evacuated from the vessel.

The situation was monitored overnight by Valentia with the LE George Bernard Shaw on scene from 9 pm last night. Weather conditions overnight were challenging but the crew are reported to be in good spirits. The Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat was also alerted and is monitoring the tow. A Coast Guard helicopter also transferred water pumps onto the vessel owing to the loss of power on the vessel.

Tow is proceeding satisfactorily and is expected to reach Bantry Bay later this evening where arrangements will be made to have the vessel taken into port.

Published in Navy

Tagged under

Sailor Rescued from Burning Boat off Cork Coast

A lone sailor had just enough time to send out a Mayday Call last night before abandoning his blazing 28-ft pleasure craft nine miles east of Ballycotton Lighthouse on the Cork coast.

Youghal and Ballycotton lifeboat stations responded to the call and Ballycotton lifeboat station spoke of how they could see the black smoke in the distance as they rushed to the lifeboat station. An angling boat in the vicinity recovered the lone sailor from the sea. He was transferred to another angling boat and was immediately taken to Youghal where his condition was assessed by medical personnel.

Youghal and Ballycotton lifeboats were requested by the Coastguard to remain on scene while the pleasure craft blazed. Approximately an hour later the boat sank and the lifeboats returned to station.