Irish Port and Shipping News

In this scene is the public viewing spectacle at the launch of Arklow Ranger at a Dutch shipyard last year, to today’s completion of a maiden voyage by the 6,800dwat cargo ship to the Norwegian port at Glomfjord which is within the Arctic Circle.

Arklow Ranger Makes Maiden Voyage Across North Sea to Norwegian Fjord Port Within the Arctic Circle

16th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

The newest Irish flagged merchant ship, Arklow Ranger has made its maiden voyage from The Netherlands to Norway as the newbuild dry-cargo ship arrived this afternoon into the Arctic Circle, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Ranger departed the Dutch north-east port…

Alpha Marine’s newly acquired multicat AMS Retriever, built by Damen Shipyard to their 2309 series is pictured recently in Rotterdam. The addition, AFLOAT adds follows that of a tug/workboat of the same name which is no longer part of the Wicklow based fleet.

Wicklow Based Alpha Marine Acquire A Damen Shipyard Built Multicat

16th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

Wicklow Port based multi-disciplinary marine company, Alpha Marine has acquired a Damen Shipyard built multi-cat of their 2309 design, which had been operating in the Netherlands. The purchase of the multicat from Purus HST of Swansea, Wales, was concluded in mid-December…

WEC Lines B.V. has introduced a new direct service between the Port of Liverpool and Agadir, Morocco (via Spain, Portugal & Canaries), so to improve importing fresh produce to the UK, notably tomatoes from the north African nation. Afloat highlights that only last year, WEC based in Rotterdam, celebrated its fifth decade, trading short-sea and deep-sea. Above WEC’s Van Eyk at the Portuguese port of Leixões which is part of the UK-Iberian-Africa liner service.

Liverpool Sees New Morocco, Africa Service as WEC Lines Add Call Boosting Trade in Tomatoes to UK

14th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

Shipping operator, WEC Lines this month is introducing a new direct service between Liverpool and Agadir in Morocco, offering a fast and green alternative for fresh produce importers when compared to overland trucking. According to the Port of Liverpool, the…

Last year the Port of Galway handled 500,259 tonnes of cargo, a notably highlight was a strong boost in growth from ships transporting inbound components to complete onshore based wind projects. Above ships offshore of the port where AFLOAT adds, the next scheduled arrival with wind-turbine components is 26 January, on board Wilson Rotterdam, operated by Norwegian ship-owner, Wilson AS of Bergen.

Port of Galway Hits Turnover of €6m as Benefits of Wind Projects Blow Ashore

14th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

Turnover rose to almost €6m last year at the Port of Galway, following strong growth in shipping operations linked to transporting inbound components used for onshore based wind projects. The revenue generated by the port, recently awarded European TEN-T status,…

World’s largest container carrier, Maersk has told Reuters, that it hopes the threat level can be lowered following co-ordinated action in the Red Sea.

World’s Largest Container Operator Hopes for Better Times Amid Red Sea Houthi Airstrikes

12th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

Global container line, AP Moller-Maersk hopes the presence of naval forces in the Red Sea in addition to political action will allow vessels to resume transiting the Middle East waterway, a major international link between the Indian subcontinent, Asia and…

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has welcomed the EU Parliament and Council in reaching an agreement on TEN-T network, as the role of ports’ will now be assessed not only on the basis of tonnage, but also on its contribution to the energy transition.

Europe’s Ports Welcome EU Agreement on TEN-T Regulation On Inclusion of Energy Ports

12th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

The EU Parliament and Council on 18 December reached a deal on the review of the TEN-T Regulation, setting the requirements for all transport nodes and modes being part of the TEN-T network. The new Regulation revises the original Regulation…

Marine Notice: International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments

31st December 2023 Ports & Shipping

The final Marine Notice of 2023 draws attention to and provides information regarding the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention). These 2023 regulations give effect to the Convention in Ireland and…

Container giant Maersk had diverted 26 of its own ships around the Cape of Good Hope in the last 10 days or so, while only 5 more were scheduled to start the same journey according to detailed breakdown by Reuters.

Container Giant Maersk to Send Almost all Ships via Suez Canal as Schedule Shows

28th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

Container shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk has diverted 26 of its own vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in the last 10 days or so, while only 5 more were scheduled to start the same journey according to detailed breakdown…

A container ship docked at an Irish port

MSO Seeks Applications for Authorisation to Act as Recognised Security Organisations (Ports)

26th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

The Marine Survey Office (MSO) of the Department of Transport is seeking applications from interested parties who wish to act as Recognised Security Organisations - RSO (Ports) for the period from January 2024 to 31 December 2028. The authorisation will…

The newly built survey support vessel, the Mainport Edge, for c.€16m

€16m 'Mainport Edge' Survey Support Vessel Purchase as MML invests in Mainport Shipping Alongside Irish Mainport Holdings

20th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

Irish Mainport Holdings Limited (“IMH”) today announced that it has agreed a multi-million euro equity investment from MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland Limited (“MML”) into Mainport Shipping Limited. Mainport Shipping is an integrated marine services business that charters survey support…

A new design for a zero emission English Channel container vessel featuring wind blades has released by Belgium's Zulu Associates. The ground-breaking 200 TEU capacity autonomous short sea container vessel is to be operated by Anglo Belgian Shipping Company.

New Design for Zero-Emission English Channel Operating Autonomous Container Vessel to Feature Wind Blades

15th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

A Belgian maritime innovator, Zulu Associates is revealing the latest concept design of its groundbreaking 200 TEU autonomous short sea container vessel, the Zulu Mass. The design for the Zulu Mass is to feature an auxiliary wind assistance system as…

In the latest ERSI quarterly report, there was a decline in Irish exports, notably in the pharmaceutical sector, which will result in the nation’s GDP shrinking by 2.7% this year. On the domestic front, the ERSI expect demand is to rise by just 0.6% this year, with GDP to shrink by 2.7%. Above container ship MSC Nikoleta which AFLOAT highlights of its arrival to the Port of Cork with a maiden call on 2nd March, as seen the next day at the Cork Container Terminal (CTT), Ringaskiddy.

Quarterly Report from ESRI As It Cuts Domestic Growth Forecast Again as Irish Households & Businesses Tighten Belts

14th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

In its latest quarterly outlook report, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which provides evidence-based research to inform public policy debate and decision-making, has cut its domestic economic growth forecasts for a third time this year. As The Irish…

To celebrate the creation of the Port of Milford Haven, 65 years ago, The First Minister, Mark Drakeford last week attended a gala event to mark the milestone (in a separate development, Afloat adds, the First Minister announced yesterday, that he is quitting in his role after five years). Also attending the event, was the Welsh Secretary, the Chair of the Welsh Select Committee along with 200 guests. Milford Haven is the largest port in Wales and is the UK’s single largest cluster of energy-related businesses, processing around 20% of the UK’s energy needs, supporting the employment of 5,000 highly skilled workers in Wales, with many hundreds more throughout the wider supply chain.

Port of Milford Haven, the Largest Port in Wales Celebrates 65 Years With Ministers Attending Gala Event

14th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

To mark the 65th anniversary of the creation of the Port of Milford Haven, The First Minister of Wales (Mark Drakeford), the Welsh Secretary and the Chair of the Welsh Select Committee and more than 200 guests came together at…

Rail efficiency: At the Port of Waterford’s main Belview terminal, a rail engine swap-over took place from a train loaded with rail-track (top photo) to that of a train with containers (bottom). In both photos, AFLOAT adds were berthed containership Samskip Express and the dredger Freeway as reported last month.

Full Steam Ahead at Port of Waterford’s Belview Terminal As Rail Engine Makes Swap-Over

11th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

At the south-east Irish port of Waterford, the main terminal at Belview is where two trains were at the facility that led to maximised efficiency as an engine swap-over took place, writes Jehan Ashmore. The swap-over was carried out last…

Wreaths are laid at the 81st-anniversary memorial ceremony in Cobh, remembering the Cork Harbour Irish Shipping tragedy of December 1942

Cork Harbour Tragedy Memorial Service Held in Cobh

9th December 2023 Cork Harbour

The 81st-anniversary memorial ceremony remembering the Cork Harbour Irish Shipping tragedy of December was held in Cobh, County Cork this morning. It commemorates the December 1942 tragedy when five members of the then Marine Service, William Duggan, Frank Lloyd, Frank…

The Transport Committee of the EU Parliament report that embraces the comprehensive role of Europe’s ports and the vital role that ports play for Europe’s society and economy. The report has been highly welcomed by ESPO which is the principal interface between European seaports and the European institutions and its policy makers.

Europe’s Ports Where Focus on Implementation is the Best Port Strategy Forward - ESPO Welcomes

8th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

The Transport Committee in the European Parliament has adopted the own-initiative report on building a comprehensive European Port Strategy. On foot of this the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has highly welcomed that the report embraces the comprehensive role of…