Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Irish Port and Shipping News
Latest trade statistics highlight sharp fall-off in imports in January. Above a containership berthed at Tivoli Container Terminal, Cork
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has said imports from Britain fell by almost two thirds in January after the UK left the European Union. The latest trade statistics from the CSO reveal an immediate Brexit impact with the value of…
ESPO Conference Regatta 2021: programme and practical information is now online. Are you ready to sail off with us? Together with Ports of Valencia, Ghent (North Sea Port) and Oslo. ESPO is ready to welcome you on May 25, 26 and the 28th for a unique event!
This year's European Sea Port Organisation's annual Conference will differ as the format involves a 'Regatta' crossing Europe from South to North. The Conference Regatta sets sail in the Port of Valencia on Tuesday 25 May. From there onwards it…
Warrenpoint Port allocated funding for infrastructure works
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority has been allocated £1.5m by Nichola Mallon, Northern Ireland's Minister for Infrastructure. The funding will allow the Co.Down authority to take forward a programme of port infrastructure works. Minister Mallon said: “The Harbour Authority has identified a…
IEA largely welcomes the UK Government's decision to delay the post-Brexit checks on EU goods coming into Great Britain by six months.
This afternoon the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) has largely welcomed the announcement by the UK Government to delay the post-Brexit checks on EU goods coming into Great Britain by six months. The delay, which was announced by Michael Gove MP,…
Arklow Vanguard arriving to Wicklow Port today - on what is a rare call by an ASL to the east coast port. The Dutch flagged vessel had sailed across the Celtic Sea from Avonmouth Docks on the Bristol Channel.
Before signing off for Afloat's report on RV Celtic Voyager's Dun Laoghaire call and bad weather forecast for Wicklow Head, this led to tracking an Arklow Shipping cargoship on a rare call bound to the nearby port, writes Jehan Ashmore. The…
The ESPO Award 2021 will reward ports for their contribution to the recovery and prosperity of the local community. Submissions to be sent before 1st July. Make your efforts known by participating in this 13th edition. Above linking communities in a city port setting.
This year's European Sea Ports Organisation Award will go to the port managing body that proves to play a special role in the recovery and prosperity of the city and local community. The ESPO Award on Social Integration of Ports…
Annaleena Mäkilä, ESPO Chair. the first woman to chair the organisation.  The ESPO secretariat office counts more women than men (5 to 4).
Women participating in the European Sea Ports Organisation committees has increased in 2020 compared to the last two years, when ESPO started monitoring the gender balance of its internal meetings. Taking all technical committees together, women represent 35,10% of the…
The Dunkirk Spirit: A new weekly lo-lo service of Dunkirk-Bristol-Liverpool, operated by Containerships has begun to help move goods more quickly from mainland Europe to a post Brexit UK (via the Irish Sea) and avoid potential congestion at Calais and across the English Channel. Above file photo of a Containerships lo-lo ship the 803TEU Karen Scwepers at Dublin Port from where along with Rosslare and Cork ports, have seen sharp rise in capacity collectively (ro-ro & lo-lo) provided for hauliers to avoid the UK Landbridge. This has involved connecting Europe via France, Belgium, the Netherlands and also Spain.
The fallout of post-Brexit on Ireland saw operators rapidly expand direct freight ferry routes to mainland Europe, while a container company avoids potential English Channel port congestion having begun a new route via the Irish Sea, writes Jehan Ashmore. The…
MV Armorique of Brittany Ferries at Rosslare Europort last month
The Department of Transport confirmed today (Friday 5 March) that the French Government will no longer require proof of a negative COVID test result from hauliers travelling on direct maritime routes from Ireland to France. French legislation has been amended…
The newest Irish flagged merchant shipping cargoship, Arklow Arrow, seen underway in Dutch waters, last week made a maiden call to London (Tilbury Docks). The bulk orientated trader is the fifth 'A' class currently in service with just one more newbuild is to be completed.
The newest Irish flagged cargoship to enter service, Arklow Arrow following completion of sea trials on the Dutch-German border, has also carried out a maiden voyage to the UK, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Arrow is the fifth and latest 'A'…
File image of Larne and Larne Harbour in Co Antrim
NI’s Agriculture Minister has cited “practical difficulties” with the Northern Ireland Protocol in his decision to order a halt on construction of post-Brexit port inspection facilities. According to Politico, acting DAERA Minister Gordon Lyons has also told NI ports not…
ESPO welcomes the TRAN (Delli Report) report on more efficient and clean maritime transport.
In a response the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has supported the main outcomes of a vote on the own-initiative report on technical and operational measures for more efficient and cleaner maritime transport (Delli Report) in the European Parliament’s Transport…
Irish Exporters Association welcomed the publication of the European Commission’s renewed trade strategy which puts 'sustainability' central stage in the EU trade agenda.
The Irish Exporters Association (IEA) has welcomed the publication of the European Commission’s renewed trade strategy which puts sustainability central stage in the EU trade agenda. The Commission’s renewed strategy comes at a crucial time for businesses throughout the EU…
ESPO has under the slogan “Transport for EU recovery” along with 32 organisations are calling on MS to ensure the transport sector receives adequate consideration in the National recovery and resilience facility (RRF) plans.
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) with the slogan “Transport for EU Recovery” has issued a Statement on the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The statement was issued along with a further 31 other organisations. “The transport and logistics sectors play a…
Decision to resume physical inspections of animal-based products in Belfast and Larne follows a threat assessment provided by the PSNI
Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture staff which were withdrawn from Brexit checks at two ports because of claims of threats last week return to work today. According to RTE News, the decision to resume physical inspections of animal-based products in…
Up to UK 40 ports have reportedly submitted proposals, including some of the biggest names in the British ports sector, as they seek to attract benefits of 'Freeport'status among them Port of Milford Haven (above) in Pembrokeshire, south Wales. The leading UK port handles over 30m tonnes of cargo annually and is a major energy port. AFLOAT has identified in this 'file' photo the black hulled short-sea products tanker MV Brabourne / MV Blackrock (in 1989 the newbuild was named after the Dublin Bay suburb with a ceremony held in Dun Laoghaire Harbour) which Afloat reflected upon in recent years.
In the UK numerous ports, port groups and ports and logistics consortia appear to have applied for freeport status by last Friday’s deadline set for England by the UK government. This according to LloydsLoadingList, was to enable applicants seek to…