Irish Port and Shipping News

Entrance to the Port of Rotterdam which has renewed its EcoPorts’ Port environmental Review system (PERS). Europe's biggest port has trading routes connecting Irish ports among them Dublin Port where direct ro-ro and lo-lo services operate in maintaining vital trade of exports and imports.

Port of Rotterdam: ESPO Congratulates for Renewing It's EcoPorts’ PERS Standard

27th August 2020 Ports & Shipping

The Port of Rotterdam has been congratulated from the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) for renewing its EcoPorts’ Port environmental Review system (PERS), the only port sector specific environmental management standard. Being PERS certified requires amongst others that the port…

Correspondent, Alex Thomson heads out from Sheerness to the site of the ship-wreck (only around one mile offshore) on the Thames Estuary. Afloat also adds that Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey was a former ferryport connecting Vlissingen, the Netherlands up to 1994. Among the Olau Line ferries operating was Olau Britannia which many years later served Cork-Swansea as Julia under Fastnet Line which ceased in 2011.

Thames Ship Wreck With Thousands of Tons of Explosives Could Cause Beirut-Style Explosion

24th August 2020 Ports & Shipping

Almost three weeks ago the massive 'port' explosion which devastated a large swathe of the Lebanese capital Beirut sent shock waves through the world. But could such a tragedy ever happen here? The SS Richard Montgomery ran aground and sank…

'Box' boats rates: But how cargo demand evolves after the summer peak season is difficult to predict, says Alphaliner. Above an ocean going containership underway

Container Trade on Asia-Europe Rates Vulnerable to Newbuild Deliveries & Downturn

24th August 2020 Ports & Shipping

On the major East-West box trades, ocean freight rates might be surging just as the new vessel orderbook for container ships look bare but that does not mean the outlook for carriers will remain bright indefinitely. According to the latest…

SEMRU Seeking Postdoctoral Researcher In Maritime Transport Economics

22nd August 2020 Jobs

The Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) at NUI Galway is now inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates for a four-year full-time, fixed-term contract as a postdoctoral researcher. Working with colleagues in SEMRU, the successful candidate will produce research aimed at…

World’s largest shipping line, Maersk reinstates and upgrades its full-year guidance for 2020 despite expectations of further year-on-year volume losses. Above AFLOAT's photo of Mette Maersk leadship of the G-series, berthed at Port of Felixstowe, the UK's biggest 'box'boat terminal.

World's Largest Container Line Maersk Reports of Profits Up on Lower Volumes & Higher Rates

19th August 2020 Ports & Shipping

The world’s largest container shipping line, Maersk, saw profits spike during second quarter pandemic lockdowns as declining volumes were offset by higher freight rates and reduced operating costs. Parent company A.P. Moller-Maersk (APMM), writes LloydsLoadingList, reported improved profitability across all…

Customs clearing agents have been allowed back to the (Port of Beirut container) terminal and the first two ships have been worked. AFLOAT adds the photo posted in 2019 by the Port of Beirut facebook page shows in the distance the grain silo (see centre below container gantry) that was severely damaged from last week's catastrophic explosion. On the left is one of the former Irish port serving Nissan Car Carrier's (blull hull) ship's since sold for conversion as a livestock ship. To assist people, UNICEF have launched a campaign (www.unicef.ie/donate/lebanon) on the ground ready to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid, medicine, clean water and food to those in need.

Lebanon: Port of Beirut's Container Terminal Resumes Operation

13th August 2020 Ports & Shipping

At the Port of Beirut the container terminal has reopened a week after an explosion that devastated much of the Lebanese capital. The first two containerships to call at the port, LloydsLoadingList reports, berthed on August 10 as the box…

Updated European Commission Brexit Readiness Notices As End Of Transition Period Nears

12th August 2020 Ports & Shipping

The latest Marine Notice from the Irish Maritime Administration compiles links to a series of updated notices from the European Commission on the legal and practical implications arising at the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December this…

City of Paris a former car-carrier of Nissan renamed Jouri was sold this year to Lebanese interests and converted into a livestock-ship, was among the nearest ship's to the scene of the massive explosion in the Port of Beirut. The Isle of Man flagged vessel as above in Dublin Port during 2007, had notably for a ship in an Irish port made a unique 'Mediterranean' mooring also whereby City of Paris approached the quayside astern with mooring lines to enable the stern's ro-ro ramp lowered on the quay at right-angles. Note the ship also secured mooring lines from the bow across Alexandra Basin to Ocean Pier and in the water a port anchor was deployed. Note the yellow structures is not part of the ship but quayside based container straddle-cranes while on left is the original linkspan RoRo Ramp No.2 with associated tower since demolished.

'Med-Mooring' Ship that Called to Dublin Had Berthed in Port of Beirut During Explosion

9th August 2020 Ports & Shipping

City of Paris a former Nissan Car Carrier that served in Irish waters and sold this year to Beirut interests as a livestock-ship berthed in the Lebanese capital port when the massive explosion took place on Tuesday, writes Jehan Ashmore…

At least a 40% drop in container terminal capacity expansion predicted over the next five years due to pandemic volume contraction, according to Drewry

Global Container Port Investment Hit by Covid-19 Slowdown

4th August 2020 Ports & Shipping

Over the next five years investment in container port capacity is expected to tumble following coronavirus-induced global trade slowdowns. According to the latest Global Container Terminal Operators Annual Review and Forecast report published by Drewry, container port capacity expansion will…

Drewry analysis indicates {container] carriers will continue their practice of tactical sailing cancellations for the foreseeable future, suggesting shippers and forwarders extend lead times in case of operational delays. ABOVE AFLOAT's photo of 'When Mette Met Marco' on the occasion captured of containership Mette Maersk and cruiseship Marco Polo passing the UK's busiest 'box' boat port of Felixstowe in Essex, where was based Cruise & Maritime Voyages (on Monday went into administration: see Cruise Liners). CMV had operated the classic cruiseship as part of a fleet and is seen (almost 2 years ago this week) bound for nearby Harwich after a mini-cruise from Hull, the English port on the North Sea.

Ocean Freight Capacity is Volatile & Is Set to Continue for Some Months

22nd July 2020 Ports & Shipping

The container shipping and supply chain consultancy Drewry believes ocean freight carriers will continue their practice of tactical sailing cancellations for the foreseeable future, due to the “still uncertain and risky outlook for trade and for the global shipping network”,…

Cork's Tivoli docks. Last year, exports from Ireland to the Eurozone region saw record growth of 15% to €5.6bn. AFLOAT adds above is BG Freight Line's feeder service containership BG Jade, one of a quartet of lo-lo 'Ireland-max' series built in China. Since Sunday, the ship remains at anchorage in Dublin Bay having called to the Irish capital's port from where the operator also serves as part of a route network connecting mainland Europe. See photo of containership off Dun Laoghaire Harbour in Afloat's report yesterday on Dublin Bay Water Wags.

State Agency for Exporters Warns of a 'Very Challenging' 2020 Due to Brexit & Covid-19

17th July 2020 Ports & Shipping

Enterprise Ireland-backed companies which won new contracts declined by 12% in the first half of 2020 due to Covid-19 with this year described as "very challenging" for Irish exporters. As the Irish Examiner writes, the state agency responsible for helping…

Isle of Man Registry Director Cameron Mitchell. The launch of the app will become the first ever seafarer welfare app designed by a ship registry.

Ship Registry in Isle of Man Becomes First Flag State to Launch Seafarer Welfare App

15th July 2020 Ports & Shipping

The Isle of Man Ship Registry, which is one of the world's leading flag states, is set to launch the first ever seafarer welfare app designed by a ship registry. Director of the Isle of Man Ship Registry Cameron Mitchell…

Seafarers' (Covid-19) Rights: An international maritime summit which was a first for the UK in regards to addressing the impact of COVID-19 on crew changes and more issues that challenge seafarers globally was held in London last week. ABOVE AFLOAT's photo of tug Irishman (40 ton bollard pull) assisting cruiseship Marco Polo (with an international crew) depart the lock system at Port of Hull, England into the Humber estuary leading into the North Sea. The cruiseship was also a regular to Irish waters. According to Marco Polo's operator, Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) have stated due to the continued escalation of the global pandemic outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus, Government advisories in force and the lockdown of many countries and ports around the world, we CMV has taken the decision to suspend all our cruises up to 25th August 2020. As for the Irish authorities, they advise against all non-essential travel overseas until further notice. This includes Great Britain but does not apply to Northern Ireland. It also includes all travel by cruise ship.

Seafarers' Rights - New International Commitment to Enhance 'Key Workers' Following Impact of Covid-19

13th July 2020 Ports & Shipping

Seafarers worldwide will get enhanced rights as key workers following a joint commitment made at the International Maritime Summit held in London last week. UK holds first international maritime summit to address impact of COVID-19 on crew changes international recognition…

IMDO Represents Irish Ports In New ’Network Of Excellence’ Towards The Port Of Tomorrow

10th July 2020 Irish Ports

DocksTheFuture, the European Commission-funded project aimed at defining the vision for the ports of the future in 2030, has announced the launch of a ‘Network of Excellence’. The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) represents Irish ports in this network with…

Newbuilds pictorial: Arklow Archer, the latest of a new 'A' class series of bulk orientated dry-cargo vessels for the Irish owners Arklow Shipping. At the ship's launch the customary gathering of the public to view the spectacle was not an option due to Covid-19 health restrictions. Also depicted beneath is another newbuild the W' class Arklow Wood.

Arklow's Latest Newbuild 'Archer' Heads For the Sea

8th July 2020 Arklow Shipping

Afloat has tracked the newest Arklow Shipping 'A' class newbuild cargoship Arklow Archer which is currently under tow on a canal from a Dutch inland shipyard to a North Sea port, writes Jehan Ashmore. The newbuild Arklow Archer is a…

The Welsh capital of Cardiff where the port has welcomed a new contract with a global energy company that will assist in fueling the economy of the city and the wider region

Welsh Capital's Port Celebrates New Contract with Global Energy Company

8th July 2020 Ports & Shipping

The Welsh capital of Cardiff is where its port celebrated the start of a new contract with Valero, a global refiner specialising in the manufacture of transportation fuels and petrochemical products. The development will help power the economy of the…