#Ports&ShippingReview: Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where the European Sustainable Shipping Forum has called on European shipowners and port authorities for urgent clarification of rules regarding use of sulphur scrubbers due on 1 January 2015.

Dublin Port Company paid a dividend of €8m to the State based on its financial results for year 2013.

During the Legenderry Maritime Festival which culminated with a send-off farewell of Clipper Race yachts, the host port also celebrated their 160th anniversary.

A port snapshot of shipping activity on Waterford Estuary revealed an eclectic range of vessels involving foreign naval patrolboats, a luxury €13m sale-listed motoryacht and a livestock carrier trading to Libya.

In addition to the WD Mersey a dredger carrying out operations along the estuary for the Port of Waterford Company.

The Irish economy grew according to CSO in that there was a 2.7% increase in GDP in Q1 this year compared to same period 2013. As for GNP this rose by 0.5% over the same quarter this year.

Harland & Wolff, the shipbuilder-turned renewable energy giant manufacturer, suffered a £3.8m loss in 2013, according to newly-filed results.

Samskip Multimodal announced a new part-load services (LCL/groupage) between Italy and Ireland offering an alternative to traditional road haulage part load services.

#Ports&ShippingReview: Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where at the inaugural 'Our Ocean Wealth' Conference, Simon Coveney, Minister for the Marine outlined significant progress made implementing the Government's 2012 Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth: An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland.

Arklow Beach is the third of six 'B' class 'green' newbuilds launched in the Netherlands for Arklow Shipping's Dutch subsidiary.

LD Lines finally resume their Ireland-Spain service via western France served by ro-pax Norman Atlantic, following an absence of more than three months.

Only days after L.E. Samuel Beckett's first patrol and major exercise, the vessel she directly replaced the Emer arrived off the Nigerian capital of Lagos to begin a new career in the oil industry.

Customs officers at Drogheda Port seize a ship loaded with €14m of cigarettes and tobacco, the biggest haul in Europe so far this year. The vessel, Shingle was later escorted by Revenue Customs Cutters RCC Suirbheir and RCC Faire to Dublin Port where the contraband cargo was unloaded.

Port Statistics for 2013 from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveal that Irish Ports handled more traffic when compared to 2012 where vessels numbers increased by 1.1% to 11,940.

#Ports&ShippingReview: Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where the European Commission has approved the P3 Alliance Network involving three major container shipping operators.

At cabinet level, Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar has secured approval of a new Harbours (Amendment) Bill with important implications for Ireland's vital port sector, where five ports designated as Ports of Regional Significance be transferred to local authorities.

The draft legislation builds upon Minister Varadkar's ongoing reform of the State commercial ports sector announced in last year's launch of the National Ports Policy.

Details of the bill and associated consultation submissions from the ports and representing the maritime sector bodies are also available from the DTTAS website.

www.followthefleet.ie has launched a subsciber survey for its educational website resource designed to bring the world of maritime adventure into the classroom and gain an understanding of the marine industry.

Ardmore Shipping acquires a pair of second-hand 47,500dwt MR product tankers for $23 each from the Japanese yard of Onomichi Dockyard which launched the sisters in 2008.

#Ports&ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where a snapshot on the port of Wicklow reveals modest signs of traffic not seen since 2008.

Irish Continental Group (ICG) issued their interim management statement for the first four months of the year, the group's revenue rose 5.8% to €76.7 million, compared with €72.5 million in the same period last year.

Arklow Ruler (2006/2,999grt) which ran aground at the entrance of Drogheda Port at the mouth of the Boyne, was eventually re-floated and proceeded to Antwerp. A similar incident took place off the Co. Louth port by a sister in 2010.

d'Amico International Shipping S.A., an international marine transportation company which has a subsidiary based in Ireland since 2001, announced additional pair of medium-range "ECO" tanker class newbuilds from a Vietnamese yard.

There was further Irish related newbuild news from Ardmore Shipping Corporation's Cork based financial HQ, as they acquired a 49,997 dwt Eco-design product and chemical tanker from a South Korean yard at a price of $36m.

Manx shipping is not exclusively centred on Douglas and that of the famous 'steam-packet' ferry company, as in Ramsey, the island's only cargoship operator Mezeron Freight Services runs a 'liner' service linking to Belfast and also Glasson Dock, England.

The port was where the Ramsey Steamship Company was based until their sad demise in their centenary year in 2013, when their Ben Maye was chartered as the S.S. Hare for the Lockout 1913 commemorative voyage from Liverpool to Dublin Port.

#Ports & Shipping Review – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where French route cruiseferry Oscar Wilde had to cancel a round-trip to Rosslare Harbour due to a technical fault of a radar, which was eventually repaired leading to resumption of service.

Port of Cork will this season have 54 cruise ships which despite the number of calls is slightly lower than 2013, however cruise vessels visiting in 2014 are larger and have higher passenger volumes.

The natural harbour is also where Brittany Ferries flagship cruiseferry Pont-Aven is operating on her 10th season on the Roscoff route.

Seatruck Ferries introduced a larger P-class freight-ferry on Dublin-Heysham route, the 110-ro-ro unit Seatruck Pace replaced R-class 65-unit vessel Arrow which subsequently went on charter.

This month traditionally marks the opening of the cruise season with ports around the island welcoming callers, Port of Waterford saw Noble Caledonia's Island Sky, which is on a Garden themed cruise that involved docking along the city's quays.

Galway Harbour which is to have one of the busiest cruise seasons in recent years  with polar expedition cruise ship Fram having anchored offshore. Further northwards in the Port of Londonderry, the same Norwegian-flagged vessel operated by Hurtigruten, also became the first visitor to the Lough Foyle port.

As for Dublin Bay ports, two cruiseships one large the other small each made separate calls to Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Princess Cruises 3,082 passenger capacity Emerald Princess (2007/118,681grt) docked in the capital on the day of  'casting of the spear' ceremony. While Island Sky (1992/4,200grt) berthed in Dun Laoghaire.

The Naval Service's newest ship, L.E. Samuel Beckett (P61) the first of a pair of OPV 90m class newbuilds, made her delivery voyage from a North Devon shipyard to Cork Harbour for the first time, the historic occasion marking a momentous chapter for the navy.

Another development in the lower harbour is the Port of Cork Company's planning application to An Bord Pleanála for the Ringaskiddy Port Redevelopment project which neighbours the naval base on Haulbowline Island.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where the longest cargoship ever to dock in Drogheda Port, Rusich-5 at over 420ft berthed under the shadow of the railway viaduct.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is to introduce added freight capacity later this month as previously reported on Afloat.ie, on the Douglas-Heysham route with the 84 unit ro-ro Arrow on bare-boat charter from Seatruck Ferries.

Galway Port's ambitious expansion plans as reported earlier this year on Afloat.ie, faced objections from Limerick – as a Galway TD accused Shannon Foynes Port of trying to 'torpedo' his city's plans.

Containership Arslan II (1991/3,125grt) that grounded on Arklow Bank in January, and causing damage to her rudder, finally departed Dublin Port more than two months later and sailed to Turkey, from where it is understood that further repairs are to take place.

Seatruck Ferries are to introduce a larger P-class ro-ro vessel on the Dublin Port-Heysham service with the 110-unit vessel replacing the 84-unit Arrow as referred above.

First quarter figures for 2014 show Dublin Port Company is showing signs of accelerating cargo volumes with imports (+8.5%), exports (+12.1%) and in total volumes are up by 10.0%.

Veteran vessel, Hebble Sand, a humble dredger still remains in service for more than half a century and retains her original name despite her launch in 1963. This week she was working on the Boyne for the port of Drogheda.

#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where Arklow Bay, second of six 'green' newbuilds was launched in the Netherlands for Arklow Shipping Ltd.

Containership Arslan II that is understood to have got into difficulties involving her rudder off Arklow Bank in January has since remained in Dublin Port, was due to have departed last week. However, the latest departure date is scheduled for next week.

An Ireland-Libya serving livestock-carrier Express 1 which was detained in February by the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) undertook 'post-repair' trails in the English Channel. It was also reported that she was due to leave Fowey this week, following urgent maintenance work.

Also earlier this week, a sister of the livestock-carrier, Atlantic M departed Belview, Waterford and is understood to be bound for Misrata in Libya.

Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD has appointed three new members to the Board of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company.

A year has passed since the revival of container rail-freight services between Ballina and Waterford Port and which has been deemed a success according to Irish Rail freight and DFDS Logistics which operate container services to Rotterdam.

Negotiators for the European Parliament and the Council reached an informal first reading agreement on the Clean Fuel Strategy.

#P&SReview - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where Arklow Shipping's latest newbuilds are a Dutch built 4,800dwt general cargoship and a South Korean built 34,500 dwt tonnes bulk-carrier.

As reported above, the Dutch newbuild, Arklow Bank launched last month is to be followed by the Arklow Bay, second of six new 'B' class 4,800 deadweight tons multi-purpose cargoships which have 'greener' credentials through efficient hull design yet not compromising on cargo capacity.

A German-owned containership Arslan II (1991/3,125grt) that berthed in Dublin Port more than a month ago remains in dry-dock, following difficulties off Arklow Bank in what is understood to have been an incident involving her rudder.

The 260TEU container capacity vessel, named Coastal Isle until last November, has in recent years featured frequently in file footage broadcast by RTE, particular to cover stories regarding Dublin Port and balance of trade figures.

#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where the stricken tanker Hellesport Charger which lost main engine power off the Clare coast was aided by tugs at the mouth of the Shannon.

Irish Ferries ro-pax Cartour Epsilon returned to Dublin-Holyhead route duties which also marked the inaugural launch of the new direct Dublin-Cherbourg route linking the capital and the continent.

Ardmore Shipping takes delivery of a pair of tankers, raising the fleet total to 10 vessels and with a further 11 ships on order.

Brittany Ferries order its largest ever cruiseferry, a 52,000 tonnes giant powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) which is to enter service on the Cork-Roscoff route in 2017.

Manx operator, Elann Vannin Line which attempted to launch a Douglas-England service has confirmed it will not be able to start in March.

#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where the Ramsey Steamship Co. in its 100th year came to an of an era with the sale of two coasters. Earlier this year, their Ben Maye was chartered for the 'Lockout 1913' re-enactment voyage.

Thamesteel I loaded with further fermentation tanks for Guinness, docked in Dun Laoghaire Harbour with the cargo bound for the St. James Gate brewery plant's upgrade.

Conor Mowlds appointed as new Head of the National Maritime College of Ireland.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has welcomed two new continental ferry routes linking Ireland and Europe. LD Ferries Rosslare route to Spain via western France and Irish Ferries Dublin-Cherbourg to be operated by Epsilon which arrived to her new homeport this week.

MCIB releases report of the Irish flagged "MV Huelin Dispatch" containership which struck a rock off Alderney on its maiden voyage serving the Channel Islands.

Work is due to begin at the site of a new multi-million pound power plant in Londonderry Port, creating 200 construction jobs.

The Marine Institute is seeking to employ a Director for the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) following Glenn Murphy who has stepped down from this position. Murphy having been the first person to take the helm of the IMDO which was founded more than a decade ago.