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Displaying items by tag: Irma

The unprecedented damage wreaked by Hurricane Irma in recent days in the Caribbean, and now in Florida, has been a wake-up call for Irish sailors writes W M Nixon. While we may just have experience a breezy early-Autumn weekend here at home, the winds have only been at speeds which are only tiny fractions of those experienced on the other side of the Atlantic, where in many islands devastation has often been total ashore and afloat, even in the most sheltered “hurricane hole” harbours and formerly safe creeks.

Obviously the most immediate requirement is for humanitarian aid. But the long-term economic and social future of the islands and coastal communities on the mainland will be something needing continuous aid and tangible support over the months and years ahead. Many organisations are marshalling their resources and members to join this relief effort in whatever way they can, and the Ocean Cruising Club is one of them, as revealed in this bulletin here from Clew Bay-based Daria Blackwell of the much-travelled 57ft ketch Aleria, who is PRO to the Ocean Cruising Club.

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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.”