Irish Port and Shipping News

Webinar: The Future of Motorways of the Sea (MoS) is to be held on 1 July. Above AFLOAT's photo shows a diversity of ship types berthed in Dublin Port. From the left is a cement-carrier, cruise ship and con-ro vessel which connected Ireland and mainland Europe.

Webinar: Shaping Policy of a European Maritime Space-The Future of Motorways of the Sea (1 July)

26th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

A Motorways of the Sea (MoS) webinar "Shaping the Policy of a European Maritime Space – The Future of Motorways of the Sea" is to take place on Wednesday 1st July 2020 (09h30 – 11h15). The Motorways of the Sea (MoS)…

The temperature screening technology involves using a camera detection system to monitor the temperature of passengers

Port Prepares for Passengers with Temperature Screening Technology

22nd May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Portsmouth International Port says it's the first UK port to install a thermal temperature scanner, which will be available for ferry and cruise operators to screen their passengers. The temperature screening technology involves using a camera detection system to monitor…

Containers at the Tivoli Container Terminal, Cork from where 'feeder' services link the UK in addition to mainland Europe

Irish Exporters Association Says “Stalemate in EU-UK Talks Threatens Covid-19 Economic Recovery”

22nd May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Irish Exporters Association's chief executive has commented that the ongoing stalemate in the EU-UK negotiations on a future partnership could severely counteract the ability of an export led COVID-19 economic recovery. Following, the UK Government’s publication of how it intends…

Northern Ireland fishery and research vessel RV Corystes which recently left Cork Dockyard's graving-dock, the Republic's sole surviving facility for 'ships' following the closure of the larger dry-dock in Dublin Port in 2015. The stout and sturdy looking 53m vessel is seen in Belfast Lough and was built for previous owners in 1988 at a shipyard across the other side of the North Channel along the Firth of Clyde at Ferguson Ailsa shipyard in Troon, Scotland.

Shipping Snippets: 'Sixties' Ship Returns, North And South Ship's Meet & New Ferry Not Due Back to June

18th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Below are some news items from the Irish Sea and surrounding areas that Jehan Ashmore reports on from the shipping scene. Small 'Sixties' Ship Returns to Dublin A small short-sea cargoship Saturn (627 gross tonnage) dating to the era of…

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) represents the seaport authorities of all maritime Member States towards the EU institutions. Last year's EPSO Award went to the Port of Dover where AFLOAT adds above in Calais is a ferry identified as P&O's Spirit of Britain which among other ferries serving the French port and along with Dunkirk is where the UK port is currently assisting to keep food supply chain moving and ensure the NHS receives vital medical supplies through this vital cross-Channel link with mainland Europe.

Submit Your EuroPort's Eco-System Project for the ESPO Award 2020

15th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

The port theme for this year's European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Social Integration of Ports is “Enhancing the port-city relationship by encouraging innovators and local start-ups to be part of the port ecosystem”. This is the award's 12th…

The crude oil tanker Braer during a storm in 1993 foundered in the Shetlands Isles off Scotland spilling almost 85,000 tonnes. The disaster was one of the major oil spills in history and is ranked the 15th worst out of 20 indicents in terms of oil spill size tonnes according to the ITOPF's Oil Tanker Spill Statistis 2019 - see download link below. As for above the tanker is seen at Garths Ness where it broke-up on the rocky shore.

International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Announce Research & Development Award 2021

15th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

The not-for-profit organisation the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) is as a source of objective technical expertise in the area of accidental spills of oil, chemicals, and other cargoes and substances in the marine environment. As the federation is…

Associated British Ports (ABP) and Tata Steel sign long-term Port Talbot (above) agreement for the major south Wales industrial plant works to export using the Port of Newport near the Welsh capital of Cardiff. Also above AFLOAT adds is the drill-ship Sertao which departed the port in 2019 following a period of lay-up as referred below.

Associated British Ports and Steel Company Sign Long-Term Agreement to Export in Welsh Port

14th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Associated British Ports (ABP) and Tata Steel have entered a new 10-year agreement in supply of raw materials to integrated steelworks via Port Talbot's deepwater harbour and the export of finished products through the Port of Newport in south Wales.…

Covid19 Impact: The charity Liverpool Seafarers Centre CEO John Wilson presented an i-phone to stranded Indian seafarer, Nishanth Sadaram who had lost touch with his family after his mobile phone was damaged by seawater. The presentation took place on board the bulk-carrier M.V. Seamec Gallant where the seafarer is the 3rd officer of the 20,969grt bulk-carrier which AFLOAT adds having departed Liverpool is currently at anchorage off Moelfre on the Isle of Anglesey, north Wales.

Maritime Groups in Liverpool Assist Stranded Indian Seafarer Back in Touch with Family

14th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Across the Irish Sea an Indian seafarer stranded thousands of miles from home because of the Covid-19 crisis has been able to reconnect with his family thanks to the help of two Liverpool-based maritime organisations. Ecumenical charity Liverpool Seafarers Centre…

Funding for phycial posts in Northern Ports. AFLOAT adds updates on Belfast Harbour (as above) freight and passenger ferries of Stena Line berthed at the VT2 terminal and partially in the photo is ro-ro freight ferry Stena Forecaster (which Afloat reported in April) was temporarily withdrawn from Belfast-Birkenhead (Liverpool) route due to impact of Covid19. The freightship had since returned to service but as of this morning's Afloat tracked inbound sailing, noting subsequent services on the Irish Sea route have been cancelled by this ship until 1 June. Also in the foreground is a ship to shore (STS) container crane which was transported by sea from Cork Harbour (reported in March) which have since been erected. The STS crane was moved to VT3 to increase efficiency of handling essential goods for Northern Ireland.

Ports in Northern Ireland Stormont Committee Hears Physical Posts Set for Funding

14th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Ports in Northern Ireland with physical posts are set for funding ahead of the UK’s exit from the EU, a Stormont committee has been told. According to the Press Association, Junior Minister Declan Kearney told the committee that the Executive had…

The world's biggest container shipping company Maersk warns global demand is to shrink this year. Above Afloat's photo of the operator's containers stacked in Dublin Port.

Container Giant Maersk Warns Global Demand to Shrink this Year

13th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Danish shipping group AP Moller-Maersk has today warned of a sharp drop in global container volumes due to the coronavirus pandemic, sending its shares down sharply. The coronavirus epidemic has thrown the global container shipping trade off balance as global…

The Coastworker is 19.5m long with two Caterpillar engines and has a maximum speed of 11 knots

Coastworker Displacement Tug Arrives in Bangor Harbour

12th May 2020 Northern Ireland Waters

Bangor Marina on Belfast Lough may be closed but the Harbour is certainly not out of bounds to commercial traffic and the 120-ton displacement tug Coastworker arrived yesterday afternoon. She will tow the modular barge currently berthed alongside the commercial…

AFLOAT's photo of the deep-sea ('box-boat') containership Mette Maersk berthed in the UK at the Port of Felixstowe. The North Sea port is Britain’s biggest and busiest container port, and one of the largest in Europe connecting the globe. The UK port Afloat also adds is served by additional short-sea container 'feeder' routes to include those linking Belfast, Dublin and Cork.

Freight Forwarder Confident of ‘Relatively’ Quick Bounce Back for Box-Boat Shipping

12th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Shipping container demand will bounce back relatively quickly as lockdowns are eased worldwide, believes leading digitally driven freight forwarder iContainers, bringing potential new challenges as well as opportunities. “I’m cautiously optimistic that we will see a relatively quick recovery when…

According to the EU it expects IT systems and databases in place for customs, VAT and excise so that the North can plug into the EU system, however the Brexit process grinds on slowly noting completion for this work in the North has a looming deadline of 1 July. So to enable customs infrastructure and related control posts to start "immediately" if everything is to be ready by 1 January, 2021.

Brexit-EU Relationship: Gears Grind Slowly On As Deadlines Draw Closer

11th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Michel Barnier gave EU ambassadors on Tuesday a downbeat assessment of the negotiations on the future relationship with the UK. The EU's chief negotiator also spoke briefly about the row over the EU having an office in Belfast. As RTE…

UK Seafarers of 'Up to 2000' Stranded Due to Covid-19

10th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Seafarers from the UK of up to 2,000 are stranded on ships around the world because of coronavirus lockdowns, the industry's trade body has told the BBC. The UK Chamber of Shipping wants the UK government to become the first to…

Salvor working at the site of the MV Kaami off Skye

Cargo Removed From Vessel That Ran Aground Off Scotland After Sailing From Drogheda

5th May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Salvors successfully offloaded the last recoverable cargo from the grounded MV Kaami in western Scotland last Thursday, 30 April. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the MV Kaami ran aground in the Minch between Skye and Lewis on 21 March, just…

The current global health crisis will require more than a “business as usual” update of Europe’s Transport Strategy. Above the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Ports Organisation Proposes Two-Step Approach on New EU Transport Strategy

1st May 2020 Ports & Shipping

Europe has since 2011 been facing numerous new challenges and has defined new policy ambitions. However, the health crisis the world is facing today risks to radically overturn current realities, assumptions and strategies as the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO)…