Displaying items by tag: Arigna Fuels
African Aggregate Imported to Port of Sligo from Where New Export in 'Smokeless' Coal Is A First
A Cameroon flagged cargoship which sailed from north Africa three weeks ago, Afloat tracked arrive to the Port of Sligo with a cargo discharged for customers Arigna Fuels, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The MV Sheksna (1994/2,052grt) on 23 September departed Sfax, Tunisia a port located midway between the nation's capital of Tunis and that of Tripoli in neighbouring Libya.
It would be 21 days later that Sheksna arrived on Wednesday evening at the Irish port in the north-west, the only working harbour between Galway and Derry whereas Killybegs accounts mostly for fishing. The 2,769dwt cargoship berthed at Sligo's Deepwater Quay where the ship's length of 82m exceeded beyond that of the 77m quay.
According to ships agent, North West Shipping Services, Sheksna was loaded with the first ever cargo of olive stone granulate bound for Arigna Fuels. The company emerged from the coal mining industry in the region went on to build Ireland's first smokeless fuel plant in the mid-1980’s.
Another first for the Port of Sligo was an inaugural coal export cargo from Arigna Fuels that took place last month involving the 1,102dwt Latvian flagged cargoship Ceg Cosmos (1983/1,139grt).
The plant employing 50 people borders counties Leitrim and Roscommon and produces smokeless fuels and is kinder to the environment. The fuel is supplied to the Irish market in addition is exported to the UK.
Prior to this shipment, Ceg Cosmos discharged anthracite at the Port of Sligo and with the cargo also bound for Arigna Fuels. The cargo is a raw material used to produce smokeless coal. These smokeless fuels are also known as ovoid’s because of their shape.
The Ceg Cosmos is set to return to Sligo as last night the ship departed Swansea, south Wales and is currently underway heading northbound into the Irish Sea.
Over the years Afloat has reported on the 63m red hulled cargoship call to Port of Wicklow. Coincidently this morning the ship was offshore of Wicklow Head, but further out to sea and to the east of the Codling Bouy.
The short-sea trader is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Sligo tomorrow morning.
