Irish Port and Shipping News

Captain John Pearn, pilot at the Port of Milford Haven, has been awarded a UK Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service. The Port is the UK’s top energy port and Wales’ busiest port handling around 20% of Britain’s seaborne trade in oil and gas. It is widely recognised in the industry as the energy capital of the UK.

Top UK Maritime Honour Bestowed to South Wales Pilot at the Port of Milford Haven

12th September 2023 Ports & Shipping

On Merchant Navy Day (3rd Sept) the UK Government honoured Captain John Pearn with a Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service. This is the highest medal of honour within the maritime sector and it recognises John’s lifetime of service to…

LISW: Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) CEO Tom Chant said for the UK to maintain its position as a prime mover in marine autonomous system (MAS) it needs a clear pathway for growth and streamlining regulation. SMI is holding an event to discuss the future of the robotics sector on board THV Galatea, London this week at LISW, to register see details below.

Future of Marine Robotics Sector in UK to be Debated at London International Shipping Week (LISW)

12th September 2023 Ports & Shipping

The UK’s voice of maritime engineering and marine science, the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI), is staging an event aiming to galvanise the UK’s world leading marine robotics sector during London International Shipping Week. The event on this Thursday, 14th…

Cloghan Point has four large tanks which are currently used to store part of the Republic of Ireland’s strategic reserve of diesel and gas oil

Council Planners Approve Cloghan Point Oil Terminal Expansion Despite Sizeable Local Opposition

8th September 2023 Belfast Lough

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s planning committee have approved for expansion of a Belfast Lough oil terminal despite sizeable local opposition to the project, as BBC News reports. Cloghan Point has four large tanks which are currently used to…

After serving Arklow Shipping for more than 17 years, the ‘R’ series short-sea trader Arklow Rainbow of the Co. Wicklow ship-owner, has been sold to a rival Norwegian owner. Above is Afloat’s photo of Cork Harbour with the Naval Base, Haulbowline and in background the National Maritime College of Ireland, Ringaskiddy and another former R series, Arklow Racer, which name was revived when given to a new R series /Eco-Trader cargoship from Dutch shipbuilders, Royal Bodewes from where this newbuild Afloat reported of its launch during the summer, noting a further four are to be completed as part of the seven strong ship series.

Arklow’s Remaining ‘R’ Series Quartet Reduced to Trio as Norwegian Rival Acquire Cargo Ship

6th September 2023 Arklow Shipping

During routine consultation of the Arklow Shipping website fleetlist, it was noted short of an ‘R’ series cargoship, which has led to identification of its new shipowner, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Arklow Rainbow until recently, was one of just a…

Mersey Maritime is hosting the ‘Mersey on the Thames‘ (as part of LISW) which is to be hosted by the UK Shadow Maritime Minister at the House of Commons.

Mersey Maritime Heads to the Thames at London International Shipping Week (LISW)

6th September 2023 Ports & Shipping

Mersey Maritime, a regional cluster organisation for the maritime industry in the Liverpool City Region and greater North West England, will be part of the forthcoming London International Shipping Week (LISW) of 11-15 September. This year, Mersey Maritime is hosting…

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the maritime agency of the United Nations, which is responsible for regulating shipping, is taking action in regard to noise from ships

International Maritime Organisation to Discuss Underwater Noise Problems

6th September 2023 Ports & Shipping

As shipping, recreational boating and energy exploration have increased along coastlines, offshore and in deep ocean environments, concern has been raised about the impact of noise from these activities. Research has established that such noise can travel long distances underwater,…

European Sea Ports Organisation welcomes the aim of Commission’s Green Deal Industrial Plan to ensure the EU can become an important player in production and supply of net-zero products

For Europe's Ports EU’s Net-Zero Industry Policy Should Look Both at Production and Supply Chains

5th September 2023 Ports & Shipping

The European SeaPorts Organisation (ESPO) welcomes the aim of the Commission’s Green Deal Industrial Plan to ensure that the European Union can become an important player in the production and supply of net-zero products and technologies and a competitive player…

A LoLo container vessel docked at an Irish port

Container Volumes at Irish Ports Fell Sharply in First Half of 2023 — But Encouraging Signs as Inflation Eases, IMDO Says

31st August 2023 Irish Ports

Volumes handled by the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) and Lift-on/Lift-off (LoLo) cargo modes at Irish ports declined significantly in the first six months of 2023, according to a new report from the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO). When compared to the first…

Svitzer is to have the world’s first methanol hybrid fuel cell tug (MHFC) built in a project with Robert Allan Ltd as it enters a second phase to design the vessel, which represents a key step in Svitzer’s mission to lead the decarbonisation of towage services worldwide.

Joint Project between Svitzer and Robert Allan to Design World’s First Methanol Hybrid Fuel Cell Tug

30th August 2023 Ports & Shipping

A leading global towage provider, Svitzer part of the Danish shipping giant, A.P. Moller-Maersk, has announced the launch of the second phase of its project to design the world’s first methanol hybrid fuel cell (MHFC) tug. Svitzer has conducted technical…

Arklow Raider, the Irish-flagged short-sea trader's bridge as seen during a night-time arrival to the UK port of Ipswich, where the performance of the east England port, reflects its key location of Suffolk and Essex is at the heart of agricultural region which is the ‘breadbasket’ of the UK. Afloat tracked this week the 4,504dwt dry-cargo ship, to the port having sailed from Terneuzen, the Netherlands and the vessel is currently at Tilbury on the Thames estuary, where adjacent to the river berth is a fleetmate, Arklow Crest from Les Sables-d'Olonne, France.

Port of Ipswich is UK Number One for Export of Agricultural Products

25th August 2023 Ports & Shipping

The UK's largest ports operator, Associated British Ports (ABP) which includes the Port of Ipswich, has retained its place as the number one export port for agricultural products for the 18th year in a row. This sees the North Sea…

The rock salt from Irish Salt Mining’s mine in Carrickfergus is loaded at nearby Kilroot Jetty on the northern shore of Belfast Lough and shipped directly to Peel Ports Group's Clydeport new storage facility (above) at the King George V Docks. The mine in Co. Antrim which produces the de-icing road salt is to support the maintenance of Scotland’s road networks over the coming winters.

Irish Salt Mining Company and Peel Ports Group Joint Investment Sees Completion of Road De-Icing Salt Storage Facility

21st August 2023 Ports & Shipping

The Irish Salt Mining Company which is a longstanding customer of Clydeport owner, Peel Ports Group, have in a joint multi-million pound investment completed construction of a de-icing salt storage facility at the Scottish port's King George V Dock. The…

Final call for entries of the Mersey Maritime industry awards which this year will be the ninth such event which takes place in November

Mersey Maritime: Final Call for Entries of Ninth Annual Industry Awards

17th August 2023 Ports & Shipping

Across the Irish Sea, Mersey Maritime, the regional cluster organisation for the maritime industry in the Liverpool City Region and the greater North West, has put out the final call for entries for its ninth annual industry awards. Now recognised…

An eco-friendly and energy efficient LNG dredger Vox Apolonia has been contracted to Peel Ports for the first time to improve sustainability of dredging works at Liverpool and Glasgow.

UK Port Operator Welcomes Eco-Friendly Dredging Vessel Working in Liverpool and Glasgow

15th August 2023 Ports & Shipping

The UK's second largest port operator has welcomed a new energy efficient LNG dredger for the first time as it continues to improve the sustainability of its dredging work. The Peel Ports Group has used Dutch marine contractor Van Oord’s…

The first vessel to install the NanoDeck AI Solar tile management solution to capture carbon was the 8,500dwt UAL Osprey of the Cowes, Isle of Wight based operator Carisbrooke Shipping. Afloat adds, a fleetmate, the 11,000dwt Vectis Progress, was in Irish waters having called to Dublin Port on 3 August following a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from Montreal, Canada.

Cowes Isle of Wight Based Operator Commits to Installing AI Solar Cells on Vessels Following Successful Trials

14th August 2023 Ports & Shipping

International operator Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd based in Cowes, Isle of Wight and Rotterdam, The Netherlands, will install revolutionary solar cells on its dry-cargo vessels, to manage and store renewable energy following successful trials in Equatorial waters. Carisbrooke Shipping which operates…

Pembroke Dock Redevelopment Works Pave the Way for Low Carbon Future

9th August 2023 Ports & Shipping

In south Wales is where significant progress at Pembroke Dock is being made to create a multi-purpose and future energy-ready port in Pembrokeshire that will create a bright and prosperous outlook for current and future generations. Physical works on the…

Call for Papers on Innovations for Shipping in the Context of New Environmental Policies

6th August 2023 Ports & Shipping

Elsevier has released a call for papers in innovations for shipping in the context of new environmental policies for its international journal of ocean affairs. The academic journal publisher is seeking research studies and reviews on topics including and not…