Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#SeafarersMemorial – The annual National Commemoration Service for Irish Seafarers in Dublin is to held this Sunday, 19th November. The annual service hosted by the Maritime Institute of Ireland will involve a wreath-laying ceremony at 12.00 noon on City Quay…

#ArklowAnchorage - Along Leinster's eastern seaboard, Afloat tracked newbuild Arklow Clan that made a maiden call albeit offshore of the shipowners homeport of the Co. Wicklow harbour town, writes Jehan Ashmore. According to Arklow Shipping Ltd (ASL) with headquarters on the…

#Brazil-France - Arklow Spirit a bulk-carrier has almost retraced the historic French tallship Belém's cocoa bean trade route from Brazil to Paris, where downriver in Rouen, the Irish ship docked having sailed from south America via Ireland last month, writes…

#SistersDryDock - A pair of sisters, one Irish flagged the other recently transferred to the UK departed before noon today and within half an hour of eachother having vacated the docks system in Swansea, south Wales, writes Jehan Ashmore. The…

#DryDockYards - Following closure of Dublin Graving Docks last year, the main client Arklow Shipping, has been forced to send some short-sea traders elsewhere, which has involved use of the recently refurbished Swansea Drydocks Ltd in south Wales, writes Jehan Ashmore.…

#BulkerSisters - Arklow Spirit last night returned to anchor in Dublin Bay to await orders while another bulk-carrier occupies the same berth to where the Irish flagged ship is one of a pair of the largest registered in the State,…

#LargestIrish - One of two of the largest Irish flagged cargoships, Arklow Spirit of 33,905 deadweight tons (dwt) made a maiden call to Dublin Port over the October bank holiday, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Spirit's arrival took place on Monday…

#ports&shipping - After a delay of a week, Arklow Venus which was constructed by Dutch yard Royal Bodewes was finally given the customary amidships launch yesterday, writes Jehan Ashmore. The morning launch took place at 10.00 with the newbuild slidding…

#Railfreight - It was another year of increases to rail freight traffic on Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail (IÉ) during 2016 according to MultiModal, with the number of freight trains operated being up 6% and tonnes carried up by 8%…

#BrazilCork - Appropriately one of the largest Irish flagged ships, Arklow Spirit is due to Cork (Ringaskiddy) where as previously reported the National College of Ireland annual Maritime Event Open Day is on this Thursday, writes Jehan Ashmore. Afloat has…

#Shipping - The captain of a cargo ship that ran aground on Rathlin Island last week has been fined £1,000 over his negligence at the helm, as the Belfast Telegraph reports. The MV Ruyter, which was en route from Russia…

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) has published an Economic Impact Assessment which has highlighted the port’s value to the local economy and confirmed its position as the second-largest port in Northern Ireland. The report carried out by independent economist, Ryan Hogg,…

#ports&shipping - In a break from the norm Arklow Shipping has acquired secondhand tonnage following a splurge of newbuilds delivered over recent years, writes Jehan Ashmore. The latest addition, Arklow Dawn brings a revised fleet total to 52 multipurpose vessels.…

#RMSstHelena - Operators of one of just four of the world's surviving Royal Mail Ships, St Helena Line has announced today, that it is to withdraw the passenger cargoship RMS St Helena from service in February 2018. The ship has…

#ports&shipping - A record-breaking 50% rise in profits has been announced by Foyle Ports and the news has led to the company's "strongest financial performance" in its 162-year history. The Irish News reports that the Derry port reported its fifth…

#rail&sail - Peel Ports operators of the Port of Liverpool is set to launch a new rail container service for its customers using the large north-west English port. The company is in advanced contract discussions with both a rail provider…