Irish Port and Shipping News

Professor Claire Connolly takes to the waves at Rosslare Harbour to mark the end of Ports, Past and Present, a project that celebrates five Irish Sea Ports and the crossings that link them over time and space through stories, films and an innovative app

Project Celebrates the Ports of the Irish Sea

1st May 2023 Ports & Shipping

The Ports, Past and Present Project celebrates five unique ports in the Irish Sea. Over the past five years, a collaborative team from Ireland and Wales have researched and explored, Dublin Port, Fishguard, Holyhead, Pembroke Dock and Rosslare Harbour. Working…

The European Sea Ports Organisation have very much welcomed the aim of enhancing biodiversity and preserving nature as set out in the Nature Restoration Law, but believes this new proposal must act as a complement to existing EU legislation, rather than introducing another layer of complexity in nature restoration efforts.

Europe’s Ports Ask for Coherent, Flexible Framework to Ensure Port Development & Re-Building Nature Can go Hand-in-Hand

25th April 2023 Ports & Shipping

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) very much welcomes the aim of enhancing biodiversity and preserving nature. ESPO therefore support the aims set out in the Nature Restoration Law, but believes this new proposal must act as a complement to…

Dover Marina will become home to over 160 yachts and small leisure boats after opening this month

UK's Port of Dover Celebrates New Marina Opening

21st April 2023 Ports & Shipping

The new Dover marina, now taking pride of place at the UK's busiest international ferry port on the UK south coast, will become home to over 160 yachts and small leisure boats after opening this month. Around 50 berth holders…

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomes the inclusion of maritime in the EU ETS as part of decarbonising shipping.

Emissions Trading System (ETS) Shipping: Europe’s Ports Call for Early & Robust Action to Prevent Evasion

19th April 2023 Ports & Shipping

The European Parliament have adopted the final EP-Council agreement for the revised EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for shipping. The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomed yesterday's Council agreement of the inclusion of maritime in the EU ETS as part…

The new freeport of Milford Haven in south Wales is where the Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies, visited Pembroke Port is where a multi-million pound Pembroke Dock Marine project is underway.

Port of Milford Haven Visited by Secretary of State for Wales Following Successful Celtic Freeport Bid

12th April 2023 Ports & Shipping

The Port of Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire was recently visited by the Secretary of State for Wales as the UK Government launched its new Energy Security Plan after announcing that the Celtic Freeport bid had succeeded. The Secretary, the Rt.…

Seafarers Reminded of Responsibilities to Avoid Serious Injuries Onboard Vessels

11th April 2023 Water Safety

Vessel owners and operators, masters, skippers, fishers and seafarers are reminded of their responsibilities in relation to carrying out routine tasks and maintenance on board their vessels. The advice from the Department of Transport comes on the foot of two…

Cargoship Arklow Gem, the new G class leadship was launched in the Netherlands this morning where the shipyard was open to the public for the event

New for Arklow As Leadship G-Class Gem Launched into Dutch Canal

6th April 2023 Arklow Shipping

Arklow Gem became the newest cargoship for Irish shipowners when launched this morning at a Dutch shipyard where the public were also invited to view the event, writes Jehan Ashmore. The leadship is the first of five 'G' class newbuilds for Arklow…

South Wales: The pontoon at Dale in Milford Haven Waterway is popular with residents and visitors to Pembrokeshire. The facility is one of six pontoons that will safeguard the Waterway for the next ten years.

Port in Wales Makes Contribution to Safeguard Waterway Pontoons for Another Decade

4th April 2023 Ports & Shipping

The Port of Milford Haven in south Wales has made a significant contribution to ensure six pontoons continue to be available for leisure users of the Milford Haven Waterway for another decade. Working collaboratively with Pembrokeshire County Council, the Port…

Europe’s biggest Port, Rotterdam for the fifth time has been recertified through the EcoPorts’ environmental management standard with (PERS) the Port Environmental Review System.

Europe's Largest Port, Rotterdam Gets EcoPorts PERS-Certified for the Fifth Time

3rd April 2023 Ports & Shipping

The European Sea Ports Organisation congratulates the Port of Rotterdam for being recertified through the EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS) Port Environmental Review System. The Port of Rotterdam is a long-standing member of the EcoPorts network, having joined in 2004,…

The 80-metre-long Salvage/Rescue Vessel Bakhtemir is one of three Russian commercial ships monitored by the Defence Forces off the Irish west coast over the last week

Russian Ambassador to Ireland Questions Reporting on Russian Commercial Ships Off Irish Coast

3rd April 2023 Ports & Shipping

The Russian commercial ships monitored by the Defence Forces off the Irish west coast over the last week have left the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Defence Forces have confirmed. The 79.8 metre-long Umka is an offshore supply vessel,…

CLdN Ro Ro has chartered Tundraland to boost capacity on the Santander-Dublin route from where cargo-destined for the UK market and vice-versa is transhipped at the Irish capital to Liverpool on board Seatruck Ferries. The Swedish flagged ro-ro vessel previously operated in the Gulf of Bothnia/ Baltic Sea (as above) in frozen waters when running a paper-products service from Scandinavia to Belgium and the UK.

CLdN Charters Gulf of Bothnia/ Baltic Sea Ro-Ro Freighter on Ireland-Spain Route

31st March 2023 Ports & Shipping

CLdN which acquired Seatruck Ferries last year following approval by the Irish competition authority, has confirmed to Afloat that it has chartered a Swedish flagged ro-ro freighter onto their Ireland-Spain route, writes Jehan Ashmore Compagnie Luxembourgouise de Navigation which merged…

Arklow Gem is the latest leadship newbuild from a series of five G-class cargo ships and is seen above in the Netherlands during an earlier stage of construction at the Ferus Smit shipyard. The single-hold cargo ship has since progressed to completion and is to be launched in Westerbroek in the first week of April for Arklow Shipping, among the leading operators in dry-bulk trade within Europe, with chartering teams based in Co. Wicklow homeport and also in Rotterdam.

Another Arklow 'Gem' As Newbuild Short-Sea Trader is Set for Launching This Day Next Week

30th March 2023 Arklow Shipping

Arklow Shipping continue with yet another series of newbuilds, this time in the form of the G class cargoship Arklow Gem which follows into service only last month of the R class leadship Arklow Racer, writes Jehan Ashmore The leadship…

On the AFIR deal: European Sea Port Organisation (ESPO) welcomes that both deployment and use of OPS is now regulated, but underlines the need to prioritise investments. Financing OPS remains a big challenge.

ESPO Welcomes Deployment & Use of Onshore Power Supply is Regulated, but Underlines Need to Prioritise OPS Investments

29th March 2023 Ports & Shipping

The European Parliament’s negotiators and the Council on Monday reached a deal on the requirements for Alternative Fuel Infrastructure, the so-called “AFIR”. In line with the agreement, 2030 will be the deadline for TEN-T ports to have shore side electricity…

Holyhead, Anglesey has been designated 'freeport' status by the UK and Welsh governments having reached a deal for two Welsh freeports, the other successful bidder was Celtic Freeport (Milford Haven and Port Talbot).

Freeport Status Secured in North Wales in Move Backers Say Will Create Thousands of Jobs

27th March 2023 Ports & Shipping

A freeport status in Anglesey, north Wales has been secured in a move backers say will create thousands of jobs for the region. The Welsh Government in May, 2022 had reached an agreement with the UK Government to establish a…

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has welcomed that the agreement on FuelEU Maritime introduces a requirement for ships to use shore side electricity at berth in TEN-T ports as well as in other ports which installed this infrastructure starting in 2030.

Europe’s Ports Welcome Agreement on FuelEU Maritime to Reduce Emissions from Shipping During Navigation & At Berth

23rd March 2023 Ports & Shipping

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) is pleased to see that a preliminary agreement has been reached between co-legislators on the proposal for FuelEU Maritime. The agreement provides the shipping sector with a framework to accelerate their green transition through…

The new Vigo, Spain-UK (Merseyside) route by Suardiaz Group, which will service the Green Automotive Hub plant in Eastham near the Manchester Ship Canal, is projected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by 30% and energy consumption by 37%, when compared to road travel. AFLOAT add that Suardiaz Shipping Lines, has operated Ro-Ro ships in western Europe since 1945, is currently focused on the sustainable, environmentally-friendly development of Motorways of the Sea (MoTS), in line with the European Commission’s priorities, such as Digitalisation 4.0, that will define the new era of logistics.

Peel Ports Launch Green Automotive Hub On Merseyside with New Spain-UK Route to Supply Parts for Vehicle Plant

23rd March 2023 Ports & Shipping

Peel Ports Group in the UK has announced plans for a new £10m Green Automotive Hub at Eastham on Merseyside to help power sustainable vehicle manufacturing ambitions at the Ellesmere Port vehicle manufacturing site. The Green Automotive Hub to be…