Short-sea trader Ceg Galaxy, which was laden with a cargo of fishmeal, departed the west coast Port of Sligo this month on a sailing bound for Scotland, writes Jehan Ashmore
The exporting of fishmeal, as Afloat reported earlier this year, set a busy scene as three callers from Norwegian operator, Wilson ASA, all engaged in the same trade. For example, Wilson Thames headed for Perth Harbour, a port in east Scotland. Such similar trade continues as the Ceg Cosmos recently called to the Port of Sligo having arrived on the evening tide on 13 October.
Loading operations of the 63m Ceg Calaxy were likewise carried out by North-West Shipping Services at the port’s Deepwater Quay and nearby to the regional port’s second quay, Barytes. As can be seen above on this quay are logs or ‘round timber’ as referred to in the forestry products sector.
Sligo also handles cargoes of coal and scrap for ships up to 3,500 dwt tonnes that can be accommodated in the only working port between Galway and Derry~Londonderry (Foyleport).
On completion of the loading Ceg Galaxy, the 1,300 deadweight tonnes (dwt) general cargo ship built in 1986 departed on the evening of the next day, bound for Invergordon. This port on the Gromarty Firth is also located on the east coast of Scotland.
The Riga registered Ceg Galaxy is among a fleet of coastal vessels operating for Great Glen Shipping Ltd, which serve the shipowner mainly on the west coast of Scotland and throughout the Irish Sea and beyond.
The Corpach, Fort William-based company, also in west Scotland, has two more general cargo ships, Ceg Cosmos (1,370dwt/1983) and Ceg Universe (1,260dwt/1988). The trio, in addition to operating to main ports are able to serve relatively small ports and harbours that modern vessels cannot access.
Great Glen Shipping also focuses on reducing road haulage, as coastal shipping, according to the shipowner, proves to be a viable alternative.
Previous general cargo ships of the Scottish shipowner have included the coasters, Burhou 1 and twin Isis, both of 953dwt and built in 1978.
These coasters transported a variety of cargo to Ireland, to include timber felled in Scotland, but they had served previous owners among them trading in the Channel Islands.
