Irish Port and Shipping News

BG Freight Line (a subsidiary of Peel Ports Group) has launched four new container vessels in a bid to drive sustainability across the shipping centre. The newbuild quartet, named to reflect their striking colours, BG Green (in service, with ‘scrubber’ at the stern), BG Blue, BG Red, and BG Orange, uses state-of-the-art scrubbers and is designed to help its customers significantly reduce carbon emissions. They will operate between Liverpool-Rotterdam, Afloat adds, as part of BG Freight Line’s network connecting UK, Ireland and near mainland Europe linking France, Belgium and The Netherlands.

Container Operator BG Freight Line Launches Greenest Newbuild Vessels to Drive Sustainability

8th May 2024 Ports & Shipping

Short-sea container feeder operator BG Freight Line has unveiled its greenest ships yet with four new lo-lo vessels that will help its customers significantly reduce their carbon emissions. The new ships will use a state-of-the-art scrubber to catch CO2 and…

Member of the Grimaldi Group, Atlantic Container line AB (ACL) is teaming up with BG Freight Line (BGFL) and Peel Ports in Liverpool and Dublin Port to provide a new service to significantly improve transit times in both directions between Ireland and North America. This first ‘eastbound’ sailing for this new integrated service will be operated by combination container/ro-ro (conro) Atlantic Sun (above photo), sailing New York, May 10, Baltimore, May 13, Norfolk, May 14, Halifax, May 16, connecting in Liverpool with JSP Anna, arriving Dublin, May 26 and Belfast, May 27. The ship belonging to the ‘G4’ Class are the largest conro’s in the world.

Atlantic Container Line (ACL) Announces New Faster Service between North America and Ireland

7th May 2024 Ports & Shipping

Atlantic Container Line AB (ACL) is teaming up with BG Freight Line (BGFL) and Peel Ports in Liverpool and Dublin Port to provide a new service that will significantly improve transit times and reliability in both directions between Ireland and…

During the European Sea Ports Organisation annual Conference in Paris, the organisation launched their ESPO Port Investment Study 2024 results, which is offering a comprehensive analysis of European ports' investment pipeline and challenges.

Europe’s Ports Have €80 Billion Investment Needs for the Next 10 Years - ESPO Study Reveals

30th April 2024 Ports & Shipping

In the framework of its annual conference held in Paris last week, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) launched the results of the ESPO Port Investment Study 2024 (find here). This study offers an extensive analysis of the investment pipeline…

ESPO congratulates Gerardo Landaluce (Port of Algeciras), Algis Latakas (Port of Klaipeda), Santiago Garcia-Milà (Port of Barcelona) and the ports of Sevilla, Tenerife, Vigo, Waterford, Pori, Dover, Igoumenitsa and Niedersachsen on receiving the PERS certificate – which demonstrates a commitment to environmental sustainability in the maritime industry.

Port of Waterford Among 11 Ports to Receive PERS Certificate at ESPO Conference in Paris

29th April 2024 Ports & Shipping

The European Sea Ports Organisation congratulates 11 ports with their Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certificates during the annual ESPO Conference in Paris. The Port of Algeciras (Spain), the Port of Barcelona (Spain), the Port of Klaipeda (Lithuania), the Ports…

Click click click… Arklow Rose this morning was a sight to behold as locals of a shipyard in the Netherlands watched as the smart green hulled newbuild took to the waters with a resultant splash! This is the sixth of seven ships built by Royal Bodewes to their Eco-Trader 6,800 dwt series of dry-bulk cargo ships.

Arklow Rose Takes to the Waters With Splash and Spectacle for Dutch Onlookers

26th April 2024 Arklow Shipping

Despite grey clouds, the sun was out too during the launch of Arklow Rose this morning, which was a spectacle that the locals of a Dutch shipyard clearly enjoyed watching, writes Jehan Ashmore. A blast from the Royal Bodewes shipyard…

In anticipation of the upcoming EU elections, ESPO has outlined its priorities for the next five years. These priorities are crucial in shaping the future of Europe's seaports and maritime landscape. ESPO’s strategic focus for 2024-2029 involve initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable growth, innovation, and resilience in Europe.

Priorities of Europe’s Seaports for 2024-2029 (ESPO) Highlights in Advance of Forthcoming EU Elections

23rd April 2024 Ports & Shipping

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has set out its priorities for the next five years in view of the forthcoming EU elections to be held in May. EPSO represents the port authorities, port associations and port administrations of the seaports of 21…

In north-west England, the Peel Ports Group, which includes Liverpool, has implemented hydropower to supply energy to its Queen Elizabeth II Dock at Eastham on the Manchester Ship Canal. The move has seen a twin Archimedean screw generator installed at the dock, which will generate enough power a year to fuel 190,000 homes for one day. AFLOAT adds that above is the floating ship crane Lara 1, which carried out work at Dublin Port last year, as previously reported, when installing oil-jetty-related infrastructure

Peel Ports Introduce Hydropower at Eastham Dock in Its Drive to Bring Net-Zero Ambitions Forward

22nd April 2024 Ports & Shipping

The UK's second largest port operator, Peel Ports Group, has today announced its Queen Elizabeth II Dock at Eastham, England, will utilise energy from hydropower. It’s the latest move to drive forward Peel Ports’ ambition to become net-zero across its…

File image of the d’Amico bulk carrier Cielo di San Francisco

European Union (Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

21st April 2024 Ports & Shipping

The European Communities (Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI No 110 of 2024) entered into force on 27 March 2024. Changes to the regulations for the safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers now apply…

Launch of Green Shipping Corridors Research Call at Transport Research Arena Conference in Dublin

17th April 2024 Ports & Shipping

The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) of the Marine Institute and Innovate UK hosted a networking reception in Dublin on Monday (15 April) to advance their joint plans to create green shipping corridors between Ireland and the UK. The event…

Bow of the newbuild Arklow Guard, the final of five short-sea traders on the stocks at the Dutch shipyard of Ferus Smit at Westerbroek.

Launching of the Arklow Guard Completes Final 5,150dwt 'G' Class Trader

16th April 2024 Arklow Shipping

The fifth and final of the 5,150dwt class, Arklow Guard, was launched at Ferus Smit’s Dutch inland shipyard in Westerbroek, writes Jehan Ashmore. Its launch on Friday saw the single-hold cargo ship take to the waters transversely into the adjacent…

At the launch of the new Northern Ireland Maritime & Offshore (NIMO) network are (from left) Stephen Kane (NIMO chair), Kerry Muldoon (NIMO member),  Kieran Donoghue (Invest NI chief executive) and John Patterson (head of defence at Artemis Technologies) with their Spirit of Belfast berthed alongside at the craft’s namesake port and the iconic backdrop of Harland & Wolff shipyard.

New Northern Ireland Government Backed Body Aims to Propel Maritime Excellence

11th April 2024 Ports & Shipping

The Northern Ireland Maritime & Offshore network (NIMO) is a new government-backed body, to unlock commercial opportunities in the growing maritime and offshore sector has been created. The region currently employs more than 5,000 people in the sector and contributes…

The new Pilot Boat Hibernia underway on Belfast Lough

Belfast Harbour Invests £1.5m in New Pilot Boat Equipped with Advanced Environmental Features

9th April 2024 Belfast Lough

Belfast Harbour has announced the arrival of its latest pilot boat, the Hibernia, marking a significant investment of £1.5m in its marine fleet. The new vessel will be responsible for ferrying pilots to and from ships at the port, helping…

New long-term framework covers projects across the Peel Port Group’s entire portfolio of UK and Ireland sites which includes the Group’s Marine Terminals Ltd (MTL) located at Ringsend on the south bank of Dublin Port. AFLOAT also add the Group over the last decade has invested over €30 million across MTL’s infrastructure and the terminal has a throughput of 250,000 TEU’s per year, with direct LoLo connections with ports in Central Europe and Irish Sea as well as feeder services connecting us with the Far East, India and South America. Companies already working with MTL to manage supply chains include BG Freight (a Group subsidiary), CMA/CGM, DFDS, MacAndrews and Seago Maersk.

Peel Ports Group Seeking Bids for £750m Construction Works Across Group's Portfolio of UK & Ireland Sites

8th April 2024 Ports & Shipping

The UK’s second-largest port operator, Peel Ports Group is inviting contractors to submit bids for two new frameworks covering a major long-term programme of construction works across its UK and Ireland sites, worth a total of £750 million. The port…

Online Briefing on UK–Ireland Green Shipping Corridor This Week

7th April 2024 Ports & Shipping

Join the IMDO, Marine Institute, the UK’s Department for Transport and Innovate UK to look at exciting opportunities at an upcoming briefing event as they delve into initiatives shaping international green shipping corridors. The event will be examining the opportunities…

Pictured at Cork City quays is Captain Damien O’Sullivan, marine engineer Brendan Courtney and Dave Ronayne with the background of the two 17m suction sail-towers stern-mounted on the cargo ship Eems Traveller. Read below to find out more, as AFLOAT’s research further led to the Airbus component carrying vessel, Ville de Bordeaux which this week, Monday, 1 April, completed its first Europe-USA round voyage (based on the automated sail-assisted technology) to save on fuel and importantly reduce (C02) emissions.

Suction Sail Assisted Cargo Ship Calls to Port of Cork Sees Same Technology Benefit Airbus On Board Ro-Ro Across the Atlantic

3rd April 2024 Ports & Shipping

Dock operatives of Ronayne Shipping, part of Irish Mainport Holdings, were discharging fertilizer in the Port of Cork recently from a short-sea cargo ship that had distinctive towers mounted at the stern, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 2,850-dwt vessel, Eems Traveller,…

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) is excited to join forces with 44 European transport organizations in advocating for robust funding for Europe's transport sector. ESPO’s new investment study reveals that Europe’s ports alone require over 80 billion EUR in investment over the next decade. These ports are crucial not only for maritime supply chains but also for energy security, green transition, cohesion, agriculture, industry, and military capabilities.

EU Transport Sector Calls for Robust Funding Instrument to Continue Its Strategic Role for Europe

3rd April 2024 Ports & Shipping

European transport organisations (totalling 44), representing the key spectrum of Europe’s transport network, operators and stakeholders, are again joining forces in a campaign to call the Council and the European Parliament for a robust transport funding instrument in the upcoming…