Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

#ports&shipping - After a delay of a week, Arklow Venus which was constructed by Dutch yard Royal Bodewes was finally given the customary amidships launch yesterday, writes Jehan Ashmore. The morning launch took place at 10.00 with the newbuild slidding…

#Railfreight - It was another year of increases to rail freight traffic on Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail (IÉ) during 2016 according to MultiModal, with the number of freight trains operated being up 6% and tonnes carried up by 8%…

#BrazilCork - Appropriately one of the largest Irish flagged ships, Arklow Spirit is due to Cork (Ringaskiddy) where as previously reported the National College of Ireland annual Maritime Event Open Day is on this Thursday, writes Jehan Ashmore. Afloat has…

#Shipping - The captain of a cargo ship that ran aground on Rathlin Island last week has been fined £1,000 over his negligence at the helm, as the Belfast Telegraph reports. The MV Ruyter, which was en route from Russia…

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) has published an Economic Impact Assessment which has highlighted the port’s value to the local economy and confirmed its position as the second-largest port in Northern Ireland. The report carried out by independent economist, Ryan Hogg,…

#ports&shipping - In a break from the norm Arklow Shipping has acquired secondhand tonnage following a splurge of newbuilds delivered over recent years, writes Jehan Ashmore. The latest addition, Arklow Dawn brings a revised fleet total to 52 multipurpose vessels.…

#RMSstHelena - Operators of one of just four of the world's surviving Royal Mail Ships, St Helena Line has announced today, that it is to withdraw the passenger cargoship RMS St Helena from service in February 2018. The ship has…

#ports&shipping - A record-breaking 50% rise in profits has been announced by Foyle Ports and the news has led to the company's "strongest financial performance" in its 162-year history. The Irish News reports that the Derry port reported its fifth…

#rail&sail - Peel Ports operators of the Port of Liverpool is set to launch a new rail container service for its customers using the large north-west English port. The company is in advanced contract discussions with both a rail provider…

#portsSurvey - According to the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Fact-Finding Report ‘Trends in EU Ports Governance 2016’ (download PDF) 66% of European ports are hosts to industrial plants. The main industrial sectors that were present in the sample relate…

#NMCIopenDay - The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) is set to open it’s doors next month to the public for the annual College Open Day on Thursday,  26th October. The nautical education training college located at Ringaskiddy, lower Cork…

#ports&shipping - The latest in a long line of newbuild cargsoship replacements for Arklow Shipping has been identified by Afloat and not surprisingly built in a Dutch shipyard, writes Jehan Ashmore. A steady succession of new tonnage in recent years…

“Connecting Ships, Ports and People” is the theme of World Maritime Day which is today, September 28, as marked by the International Maritime Organisation, the United Nations maritime agency. Does anybody notice anything being done officially by the Government here,…

#ports&shipping - When the north Wales plant of Anglesey Aluminium closed its site in Holyhead there was a commitment of a ‘jobs’ legacy to bring new work into the port town. The closure of smelting (2009) and then re-melt (2013)…

#ports&shipping - “More EU budget for transport, the best investment plan for Europe” is the slogan launched today from a coalition of thirty European transport organisations. The campaign is calling for a strong connecting Europe Facility for the next financial…

#ports&shipping -A majority of Irish exporters, more than 9 out of 10 trading with the UK writes The Irish Examiner need some sort of help in next months budget to cushion the effects of Brexit, according to the Irish Exporters’…