Irish Ports

InfraStrata owners of Harland & Wolff experience ‘building growth momentum’ and in its ferry and cruise market has broken even after larger contract wins were established. AFLOAT adds InfraStrata recently acquired Scottish Methil facility which is split across two locations with sites on the Isle of Lewis (in the north-west) and as above Methil, on the Fife east coast.

Shipyard Owner of Harland & Wolff ‘Builds Growth Momentum’

3rd April 2021 Shipyards

Shipyard owners of Harland & Wolff, InfraStrata has reported "steady progress" in the first months of its financial year. In a Q1 trading update, the business said it has booked about £6.5m in the eight months to 31 March 2021,…

File photo of Blue Star 1, a Greek ferry on charter for Irish Ferries Rosslare Europort-Pembroke Dock route is currently in the Mediterranean bound for the Wexford port. The newcomer is now sporting Irish Ferries livery and is to replace Isle of Inishmore which is to transfer to ICG/Irish Ferries new service on the Dover-Calais route.

Blue Star 1 Underway in the Mediterranean & Bound for Rosslare Europort Service to the UK

2nd April 2021 Rosslare Europort

Blue Star 1, a Greek flagged ferry which Irish Continental Group (ICG) has chartered for their Irish Ferries Rosslare Europort-Pembroke Dock route, has departed Piraeus on a repositioning voyage, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Greek owned Attica Group passenger ro-ro ferry…

Blue Star 1 in previous ‘superfast’ livery while servicing routes in the Greek islands

Irish Ferries Introduces Newer, Faster Ship on Rosslare–Pembroke Route

29th March 2021 Irish Ferries

Irish Ferries has announced the addition of the RoRo passenger ferry Blue Star 1 to its Rosslare–Pembroke Dock route. The ship is being chartered from the Attica Group and delivery is expected in early April. Blue Star 1 was built…

A €35m development of Rosslare Europort is paying dividends after Brexit

Rosslare Port Breathes Maritime Atmosphere & Will Have 36 Ferry Services Next Month

21st March 2021 Tom MacSweeney

Rosslare just breathes the atmosphere of the sea. Next month Rosslare Europort will hit a new record – a total of 36 shipping services a week operating from the port, which, its General Manager tells me, will make it the…

Pelagos, a ropax which ran in the Mediterranean, is to start service for DFDS Rosslare-Dunkirk route next week. The former Liverpool Seaways was owned by the Danish company which had a brief spell operating on the Irish Sea until ending in January, 2011 (as seen in photo) of the ro pax's final arrival to Dublin Port, following DFDS passenger operated sailing from Birkenhead (Liverpool). At adjacent berth, Anglia Seaways, a DFDS freighter which too that day ended service, though note still sporting the pale blue livery of the previous operator Maersk/Norfolkline.

Another 'Mediterranean' Ferry On Charter But for DFDS Rosslare-Dunkirk Operations

20th March 2021 Rosslare Europort

Following Irish Ferries two-month charter in February of a Meditteranean ferry, DFDS, operator of the new Rosslare Europort-Dunkirk freight route is to introduce a ferry from Marseille next week, writes Jehan Ashmore. Pelagos, will become the fifth ferry so far involved…

The 'Red Rebel': Resplendent in this Spring sunshine scene of Mainport Geo, a 50m former offshore supply ship, at Cork Dockyard following conversion into a survey/scientific vessel specifically to suit requirements of the offshore renewables sector. The facility in Rushbrooke, near Cobh was a former shipyard, but shiprepair and maintenance also remain, albeit at the nation's sole surviving graving dry-dock used for ships.

Cork Dockyard Converts Mainport Ship for New Career in Offshore Renewables Sector

19th March 2021 Shipyards

Cork Dockyard's completion to convert a Mainport Group offshore supply vessel acquired in Africa, as Afloat reported in January, is expected to see the ship depart drydock shortly, prior to a new role in the offshore renewables sector, writes Jehan Ashmore. The…

A convoy of caravans lined up to board a ferry at Rosslare Europort recently

Serious Concerns Over Numbers of Passengers at Rosslare Europort

3rd March 2021 Rosslare Europort

In the south-east ferryport of Rosslare, serious questions have been asked over the numbers of passengers arriving and departing and the amount of screening being undertaken to prevent any further spread of Covid-19. Last week images, writes Wexford People, were…

Trade with Britain will not return to pre-Brexit model, exporters warned. New figures show that from January 1st to February 28th there were 50,800 freight vehicle movements into Ireland from over 870 ferries from Britain. Above AFLOAT adds Alexandra Basin (Redevelopment Project) with new infrastructure in place as phase one of the port's Masterplan. Also seen berthed is one of the ro-ro freightship's dubbed the 'Brexit-buster' along in the foreground UK serving ropax ferries.

Irish-UK Trading Relationships Will Not Return to Pre-Brexit Model, Exporters Warned

2nd March 2021 Irish Ports

Ireland will never return to the type of trading relationship it enjoyed with Britain prior to Brexit, a leading customs official said on Monday as he warned of potential disruption for exporters. Speaking at a briefing held at Dublin Port,…

Bantry Bay Port total traffic was up 81% to 1.3m tonnes in 2020, compared with 2019. Above AFLOAT's photo of tanker, Seasprat at the Single Point Mooring system where during operations at the SPM, only such vessels engaged by the Oil Storage Facility on Whiddy Island to assist in the operation or authorised by the Harbour Master, are permitted to enter an Exclusion Zone.

Bantry Bay Port Bucks Trend With 81% Trade Jump

28th February 2021 Irish Ports

Bantry Bay's busy port traffic to and from the national oil reserve facility at Whiddy Island, has led to the port recording a strong performance last year, despite its sister port, Port of Cork, seeing trade falling 2% to 9.2m…

Stormy Seas and gales in February saw disruption not just in Dublin Bay but across routes and services out of other ports, among them ro-ro Bypass-Brexit operations of Brittany Ferries. The operator was forced to cancel freight sailings so to enable Armorique (above) retain a sailing schedule of a new four-route network connecting Ireland directly to the EU via France. THIS evening Armorique departs Rosslare on a scheduled sailing at 20.00hrs bound for St. Malo.

Bypass-Brexit Freight Ferry Bound for France Forced to take Rosslare-Ringaskiddy! Passage

25th February 2021 Rosslare Europort

As adverse weather impacted February, particularly Storm Darcy's disruption to Dublin Bay shipping, gales also affected Brittany Ferries new 'freight'-ferry network of Ireland-France operations, writes Jehan Ashmore. It was during routine tracking this day last week, that Afloat noted with…

83% of respondents say their plan is to grow exports to the UK. Above file scene of a busy Dublin Port with Alexanda Basin in the foreground.

Majority of Irish Exporters See New Opportunities in UK Market

12th February 2021 Irish Ports

Almost 90% of Irish exporters can see new opportunities in the UK market, according to research carried out by Enterprise Ireland. While the new EU UK trade and cooperation agreement has resulted in changes to how businesses operate in the…

Armorique on a repositioning voyage when approaching Rosslare Europort with Wexford Bay, where the ferry this afternoon completed Brittany Ferries a new four freight route rotation on Ireland-France links.

Brittany Ferries New Four Freight Route Rotation Completes first Circuit in Rosslare Europort

11th February 2021 Brittany Ferries

Brittany Ferries this afternoon marked its first completion of operating the new four 'freight' route network of Ireland-France links that began running from Rosslare Europort on this day last week, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Armorique which launched the 'Brexit-bypass' routes…

'Competent authority' must be designated to monitor the risk of dangerous contagious diseases entering the State. As documents show that Ireland has been non-compliant for approximately a decade, despite high-level discussions between the HSE, Department of Health and Department of Transport.

Irish Ports & Airports in Breach of WHO Pandemic Rules

10th February 2021 Irish Ports

In documents seen by RTÉ News, Ireland is in breach of the World Health Organization's International Health Regulations (IHR) on contagious disease control by failing to designate a 'competent authority' at its ports and airports. The documents also show that…

Expansion by Brittany Ferries is to see new routes and sailings to France (starting this week AFLOAT adds by Armorique above), bringing more freight options for hauliers connecting to mainland Europe. Freight volumes through the port were up almost 500% in January 2021 compared to last year. The news follows the French operators announcement to also boost operations with a new route and crossings out of Cork.

Further Expansion By Brittany Ferries, Increases Rosslare's European Services to 32 Weekly

2nd February 2021 Brittany Ferries

The Government's Operational Update review on trade a month after the post-Brexit transition ended, Afloat adds narrowly missed inclusion as yet another ferry development arose today, as Brittany Ferries announced new 'freight' routes increasing capacity directly to mainland Europe. Glenn…

Irish Ports during January saw volumes 50% down on imports from the UK. Above in the south east Irish Port of Waterford (Beliew) terminal where various bulk & breakbulk cargoes are also handled. AFLOAT has identified most of this merchant ship quayside scene during 2020 (l-r) Celtic Warrior (Charles M. Willie) Samskip Endeavour (for DFDS) and Miriam (for Maersk).

Irish Ports See Volume of Goods Inbound from UK Down 50%

1st February 2021 Irish Ports

Irish Port figures according to authorities following the Brexit transition that ended a month ago, have seen volumes of goods inbound from the UK remaining at around 50% of normal. As RTE News reports, the quantities of freight however are…

Record Freight Figures at Rosslare Europort as above AFLOAT adds is on the occasion in January when DFDS launched ro-pax Optima Seaways onto a new ro-ro freight route to Dunkirk, France. As RTE adds the new regime requiring hauliers leaving for France to have evidence of a negative Covid-19 test is reported to be going relatively smoothly.

Ferry Freight Traffic in January Up 45% at Rosslare Europort & Freight to Europe Up 446% Year-on-Year

1st February 2021 Rosslare Europort

Ferry services running out of Rosslare Europort has reported a 45% jump in freight traffic during January compared to the same period last year. UK traffic is down 49% for the month, but European freight is up by 446% year-on-year,…