Irish Ports

The Port of Waterford is showing positive momentum this year. Above Afloat adds is the port's main terminal, Belview located on the Suir, with bulk-carriers berthed.

Operating Profits at Port of Waterford Drop Due to Pandemic

3rd August 2021 Irish Ports

Operating profits at the Port of Waterford for 2020 were €0.7 million, down from the €1.2 million recorded in 2019 during a period of trading set against the pandemic. The Port's turnover was €7.2m for the year a reduction of…

All EU states registered large increases in exports outside Europe with the exception of Ireland and Cyprus. The opening up the Irish and EU markets to competition from the foreign companies associated with the free trade agreements can create problems for some sectors. Above AFLOAT adds an 'Ireland-Max' class containership, one of a quartet of Chinese built ships under the Cypriot flag and which operates out of Irish ports to mainland Europe in addition linking the UK.

Free Trade Deals: Are they Really Working for Irish Exporters?

2nd August 2021 Irish Ports

Due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant has forced some countries to reverse plans to reopen their economies, denting the hopes of Irish exporters for continued expansion. In particular, falling exports to countries outside of Europe are beginning…

CSO figures show seven Irish ports (among them Cork as above) handled 12m tonnes of goods in period, down 3.2%

CSO Figures Show UK Share of Port Traffic in Republic Declines to 29.4% in Q1 of 2020

22nd July 2021 Irish Ports

According to the Central Statistics Office, Northern Ireland and Britain accounted for 29.4 per cent of the total tonnage of goods handled in the seven main ports in the Republic in the first quarter of 2021. As the new CSO…

BOXBOATS AHEAD: A year ago, capacity on newbuild orders was under 10% of the existing fleet. That has now doubled and new orders coming through from carriers and owners are pushing towards a ‘psychological barrier’, after which overcapacity becomes a risk again. Above: Varying sized containerships at the Port of Felixstowe, the Britain's biggest boxboat port.

Containership Orderbook Ratio Could Reach 25%

21st July 2021 Shipyards

Shipyard orderbook for containerships could rise as high as 24% of the existing fleet if a spate of unconfirmed orders go to completion, threatening an ‘overheated’ market and eventual oversupply. “Ocean carriers, non-operating owners, investment banks and lessors have gone…

A file photo at the launch of MV Glen Sannox, the first of pair of duel-fuel powered ferries for Scotland's Western Isles operator CalMac is seen at the the now nationalised shipyard of Ferguson Marine on the Clyde

Scottish Ministers Under Fire as Fears Grow Over Collapse of Ferry Fiasco Firm

19th July 2021 Shipyards

Scottish Ministers have been asked to "come clean" as fears grow over the collapse of the nationalised shipyard firm at the centre of the ferry-building fiasco, reports The Herald. It comes after The Herald On Sunday, revealed the Scottish Government-controlled…

An artist's impression of how the Doyle Shipping Group's dockyard (former shipyard of Verolme Cork Dockyard) in Cork Harbour, could be used as a major hub for the delivery and assembly of offshore wind turbines. AFLOAT adds as part of the proposed redevelopment at Rushbrooke, west of Cobh, is a ro-ro linkspan, to discharge wind farm components from a specialist vessel with an extra height raised bow visor to enable such large scale project cargo on board.

Race is On by Irish Ports to Service Offshore Wind Farms

7th July 2021 Irish Ports

Ireland is setting itself the ambitious goal of developing 5,000MW of offshore wind energy by the end of the decade, in the meantime ports and harbours around the country are putting in place plans and infrastructure to facilitate such development. …

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Social Integration for 2021 has attracted 11 ports participating in projects for the award, among them the Irish port of Dublin. ESPO represents the seaport authorities of all maritime Member States towards the EU institutions.

Irish Port Among Ports in the Running for ESPO's Social Integration of Ports Award 2021

6th July 2021 Irish Ports

This year's European Sea Port Organisation (EPSO)'s Award on Social Integration, sees 11 ports (among them an Irish Port) that have submitted a project for the award. The following is a list in alphabetical order by country of the ports…

In Scotland, the Prince of Wales visited BAE Systems’ shipyard in Govan, Glasgow to mark the official start of construction on the Royal Navy’s 21st century warship HMS Belfast, and to see how construction is progressing on as Afloat adds the leadship of the 'City' class Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow. All eight of the class, however will be built on the River Clyde shipyard where also currently under construction is HMS Cardiff. AFLOAT adds the 'Cardiff' class name coincidentally was also used by a previous shipyard owner, Govan Shipbuilders Ltd which completed their fourth and final 'Cardiff' class bulk carrier for Irish Shipping. The final of the 25,000dwt bulk-carrier quartet was launched as Irish Larch in 1973. However, just over a decade later, the Irish state-owned company had gone into liquidation.

HMS Belfast: What's in a Name? As Steel Ceremony Takes Place for New 'City' Class Type 26 Frigate

5th July 2021 Shipyards

At a shipyard in Scotland, Prince William cut the steel on HMS Belfast, a ship which will form part of a modern fleet serving the UK's Royal Navy for decades to come, reports BBC News. Pushing down on a button…

The straight-stemmed bow of the new Irish flagged Arklow Artist, the final 'A' class series is seen departing from a Dutch shipyard on the Ems Canal, has been delivered to Arklow Shipping. AFLOAT tracked the newbuild currently berthed in the North Sea port of Emshaven at the Julianahaven basin before it embarks trading in typical 'bread & butter' cargoes such as corn and wheat.

Final Shipyard Act as Arklow 'A' List Series Newbuild Delivered to Irish Shipowners

26th June 2021 Shipyards

A new cargoship Arklow Artist, the sixth and final of the 'A' class series built at a shipyard in The Netherlands was recently delivered to Co. Wicklow shipowners, writes Jehan Ashmore. As the video shows the bulk-orientated general cargsoship's transit along the…

Clydeside Shipyard: The late Ferguson Marine ferries for Scottish operator, CalMac have been delayed up to another five months due to skill shortage and Covid. Above, the first of the pair, MV Glen Sannox (to serve Arran) this week showing repaired funnel, newly-constructed mast and fresh paint.

Clydeside Shipyard Ferries for CalMac Further Delayed Due to Skill Shortage & Covid

25th June 2021 Shipyards

Delays of up to a further five months to the completion of two long-awaited CalMac ferries were announced yesterday by shipyard Ferguson Marine, writes The Scotsman. The latest setback was blamed on a shortage of skilled workers and Covid restrictions…

The year 2020 says the IMDO was one of the most challenging years that faced the Irish maritime industry for many decades.

Irish Maritime Transport Economist Report Reveals One of the Most Challenging Years In Decades

10th June 2021 Irish Ports

The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) has announced the publication of the 18th edition of the Irish Maritime Transport Economist. In this edition, we report on 2020, one of the most challenging years that the Irish maritime industry has faced…

An aerial view of Dublin city and its port

Ports & Their Role in Redesigning European Cities Theme of Cork Harbour Festival Conference

10th June 2021 Irish Ports

Ports and “port cities” from Cork to Dublin to Europe and beyond will play an influential role in redesigning urban centres. That’s the view of the European University of Post-Industrial Cities (UNIC) alliance, involving University College Cork (UCC) and seven…

Irish Sea ro pax Norbank, in this Afloat file photo, arriving at Dublin Port (off Poolbeg Marina) from Liverpool, was a recent caller to the UK dry-dock facility of A&P Tyne on England's North Sea coast.

Irish Sea Ferry Part of Busy Period for English Shipyards of A&P North East

8th June 2021 Shipyards

An Irish Sea ferry was among those at UK shipyards on England's North Sea coast, where A&P North East's Tyne and Tees faclities reported a strong two-month period. Afloat adds the ferry, ro pax Norbank, which P&O Ferries operates on…

Ben-My-Chree on the stocks of the Merseyside dry-dock at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, however the Manx ro pax ferry's return was delayed after the shipyard's tug broke.

Manx Ferry to Head Back to Island But Delayed After Shipyard Tug Broke

2nd June 2021 Shipyards

The Isle of Man Steam Packet's Ben-my-Chree will head back to the Island (today, 2 June), more than seven weeks after heading intoa dry dock for refit (at Cammell Laird shipyard on Merseyside). The company's freight and passenger ro-pax ferry has been…

The UK prime minister says national flagship, a successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia, would promote British trade and industry around the world. As AFLOAT previously reported, the naval architect of Cunard's 'QM2' proposed the newbuild should be built in Belfast.

UK Prime Minister Plans to Sink £200m into New 'Ship of State'

1st June 2021 Shipyards

In the UK a new national flagship, the successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia, will promote British trade and industry around the world, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The newbuild vessel would be used to host trade fairs, ministerial summits…

The Scottish Government has been told it will have to pay £5 million to insurers over the Clydeside shipyard of Ferguson Marine ferries fiasco. This involved a pair of ferries for CalMac with Glen Sannox (above) for the Arran route and a sister for Skye-Harris-North Uist services.

Scottish Government Loses Ferry Court Battle Over £5m Ferguson Shipyard Insurance Payout

31st May 2021 Shipyards

Scottish Ministers have lost a case at the Court of Session brought by HCC International Insurance over money paid to Scottish Government-owned ferries owner Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal). In 2015, Cmal ordered two ferries for CalMac to be built…