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Shipping Review: Waterford’s 2020 Port Vision, Arklow’s Newbuildings & World Maritime Debate

1st October 2016
A rare example of an Irish built carferry, Spirit of Rathlin after been lowered onto the River Avoca, Arklow by the giant floating crane-barge, Lara 1 A rare example of an Irish built carferry, Spirit of Rathlin after been lowered onto the River Avoca, Arklow by the giant floating crane-barge, Lara 1 Credit: Arklow Marine Services

#ShippingReview - Jehan Ashmore reviews the shipping scene from among stories of recent weeks.

Waterford Harbour Board celebrated its bicentenary and launched the port's business plan up to 2020 with a strategy for growth at the Belview facility through a €7 million capital investment project.

The second of 10 newbuild cargoships built to a new design for Arklow Shipping, yard No. 425 Arklow Cape is to be launched on 21 October from Ferus Smit in the Netherlands. Also in the same country, another newbuild at a more advanced stage, Arklow Valley began first sea trials.

While in the same week back home at ASL’s headquarters in Arklow, a rare example of an Irish built carferry, Spirit of Rathlin was completed from Arklow Marine Services.

The Tyrrell family behind shipowners ASL, are in their fifth generation of building vessels, which saw the 6 vehicle /140 passenger car ferry lowered into the River Avoca by giant floating crane barge, Lara 1.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) World Maritime Day included a debate (click to listen) on ‘Global Shipping’s Future Challenges’ The debate was held at the IMO headquarters on the banks of the River Thames, London.

Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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As an island economy, a healthy maritime sector is key to our national competitiveness. Virtually all our imports and exports pass through Irish ports.

Ireland is dependent on ports and shipping services to transport goods and 90% of our trade is moved though Irish ports. Shipping and maritime transport services make a significant contribution to Ireland’s ocean economy, with the sector generating €2.3 billion in turnover and employing over 5,000 people in 2018.

Ireland’s maritime industry continues to grow and progress each year with Irish ports and shipping companies making significant investments. The ports sector in Ireland is currently undergoing a number of expansions and developments with Dublin Port’s Alexandra Basin development, the development of Ringaskiddy in Cork by Port of Cork and the development of Shannon Foynes Port. Along with these major investments, shipping companies are also investing heavily in new tonnage, with Irish Ferries, CLdN and Stena leading new build programmes.

These pages cover the following sectoral areas: shipowners, harbour authorities, shipbrokers, freight forwarders and contractors, cruise liner operators, port users, seamen, merchants, academic institutions, shipyards and repair facilities, naval architects, navy and defence personnel.

Our pages are covering some of the most notable arrivals around our coast and reporting too on port development and shipping news.

This section of the site deals with Port and Shipping News on our largest ports Dublin Port, Port of Cork, the Shannon Estuary, Galway Harbour and Belfast Lough.

A recent study carried out for the Irish Ports Association (IPA) totalled 75.7 billion during 2004 and their net economic impact was some 5.5 billion supporting around 57, 500 full time employees.

Liam Lacey, Director of the Marine Institute’s Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) said, “The Irish maritime industry can look to the future with confidence. It has shown itself to be resilient and agile in responding to challenges. Over the past decade, it has had to respond to the challenges of the financial crisis of 2008, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and recent challenges. Ireland’s maritime sector has continued to underpin our economy by maintaining vital shipping links for both trade and tourism.”