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Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Timber trading cargoships

#ShippingReview - Jehan Ashmore reviews the shipping scene from among the following stories of recent weeks.

‘Safe and sustainable’ marine transport and ‘delivery of emergency management services’ have been made a high level goal in the Department of Transport’s Statement of Strategy 2016-2019

UK shipbuilder Cammell Laird saw profits and sales fall last year – but the shipyard on Merseyside where Irish Ferries flagship Ulysses (currently drydocking) remains upbeat to win more contracts.

Ardmore Shipping Corporation the product/chemical tanker operator which has its Principal Operating Office in Cork City has made several appointments to overseas offices.

To prepare for a hard Brexit, Enterprise Ireland is advising firms here amid growing signs the British government may opt to quit the single market in order to regain full control over immigration.

County councillors from all main parties of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown expressed concern at potential financial liabilities in the transfer of Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

In recent weeks at Rosslare Europort dredger Sospan Dau carried out work within the harbour to remove spoil offshore, benefitting not just ferries but cruiseships and timber trading cargoships.

Arklow Castle was launched in the Netherlands as the third ‘C’ class newbuild of a 10-ship order from ASL. The 5,054dwt cargoship slid into the canal at Ferus Smit shipyard in Westerbroek.

Published in Dredging

#Dredging - In recent weeks at Rosslare Europort a dredging programme was conducted within the harbour to remove spoil offshore, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Dredging operations were carried out by Sospan Dau and assistance from tug Trojan. The resultant spoil was taken offshore and near the Lucifer Bouy.

The works are to maintain sufficient depths at the ferryport's four (one not used) linkspans located on two piers. Asides the ferry industry, the Wexford port has timber trading cargoships and the first cruiseship, Braemar in two decades called last season. 

In further efforts to attract business the Irish Rail operated port are to waive fees for cruiseships calling during this year's season and up to 2019. 

Ferries sail to Wales and France and in the high season there are four services using three routes. They are operated by just two operators, Irish Ferries and Stena Line. Celtic Link Ferries year-round service to Cherbourg and route ship Celtic Horizon (Stena Horizon docked this afternoon in Rosslare) was acquired almost three years ago (March 2014) by the giant Swedish-owned operator.

At the height of Storm Barbara, the second of this year’s storms, Afloat noted Sospan Dau, the Boskalis operated trailing suction hopper dredger take shelter at Wicklow Port.

This saw the ship berth alongside the South Pier. It is along this breakwater during the Round Ireland Yacht Race is where crowds gather to watch the start of the biennial held event. The last such event was held last year.

Published in Dredging

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.”