Irish Port and Shipping News

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.

Dunkirk Spirit Sees New 'France-UK Route' Bypass English Channel Ports Via the Irish Sea!

8th March 2021 Ports & Shipping

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

Hauliers No Longer Require Proof of Negative COVID Test on Direct Maritime Routes from Ireland to France

5th March 2021 Ports & Shipping

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.

Newest Irish Flagged Newbuild Makes Maiden Call to London As Fifth of Six 'A' Class In Service

3rd March 2021 Ports & Shipping

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

Construction Stops on Northern Ireland’s Post-Brexit Port Inspection Facilities

27th February 2021 Ports & Shipping

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.

ESPO Welcomes EU Parliament's TRAN Report on More Efficient & Cleaner Maritime Transport

25th February 2021 Ports & Shipping

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.

Irish Exporters Association Welcomes Renewed & Sustainability Focused EU Trade Strategy

24th February 2021 Ports & Shipping

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.

ESPO Launch "Transport for EU Recovery" to Keep Transport Going Forward

10th February 2021 Ports & Shipping

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

Brexit Agricultural Staff Checks Resume at Northern Ireland Ports

10th February 2021 Ports & Shipping

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.

Post-Brexit Sees Dozens of UK Ports Apply for 'Freeport' Status

8th February 2021 Ports & Shipping

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…

Arvin was a river-sea cargo vessel type and vulanerable to storms

Cargo Ship ‘Snaps in Half’ During Storm (Video)

7th February 2021 Ports & Shipping

A ship ‘snapped in half’ and sank off Turkey’s Black Sea coast while en route to Bulgaria. Now, as Marine Industry News reports, a shocking video has been shared showing the crew making an emergency mayday call as the bow…

Latest development of the new Arklow Arrow, a 8,500dwt trader, which is carrying out a series of shipbuilders sea trials in Wadden Sea off the Dutch and German coast. AFLOAT adds in tracking some other ASL ships, this led to the classic cruiseship (former liner) Marco Polo which served cruisegoers directly from Belfast and regularly called to Irish Ports - has gone to the breakers!

Arklow Newbuild On Sea Trials While Another Fleetmate Dry Docks After Short Hop from Avonmouth

4th February 2021 Arklow Shipping

Arklow Shipping, operators of a fleet of dry-cargo short-sea traders and deep-sea ocean going bulkers, is where Afloat catches up with a sample of their ships in waters much closer to home, writes Jehan Ashmore. Before this one cannot ignore…

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has said he is prepared to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Irish protocol to ensure there is no barrier down the Irish Sea. Above: Belfast Harbour along with the Port of Larne, where on Monday, threats were made to customs border post staff who were stood down from duties due to concerns for their security.

UK Prime Minister Is Prepared to Invoke Article 16 to Ensure No Barrier Down the Irish Sea

3rd February 2021 Ports & Shipping

The British prime minister Boris Johnson has said he is prepared to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Irish protocol to ensure there is no barrier down the Irish Sea. As The Irish Times writes, Mr Johnson told the House…

Volumes held up significantly in Warrenpoint Port last year despite Covid lockdown and trade drop off. Above a busy scene of ships lining the Co. Down among them AFLOAT adds on left, a ro-ro freightferry which Seatruck operate to Heysham, England.

Volumes at Warrenpoint Port Despite Covid to Deliver Continued Growth in 2021

3rd February 2021 Ports & Shipping

Tonnage details for Warrenpoint Port during 2020 have been released which show they have held up significantly. Figures were down by less than 5% on 2019 volumes and only 0.9% behind pre- Covid expected volumes. This is despite the lockdown…

Operational Update from a Government review one month after the end of the Brexit transition period: Trade volumes on ROI/GB routes (above: an Irish Sea freight ferry) were 50% of those reported in January 2020, but continuing to gradually increase week by week. For much more including trading relationships to mainland Europe and impact of Covid-19, scroll down 'headings' below.

Government's Operational Update Reviews Trading Relationships Since Post-Brexit Transition

2nd February 2021 Ports & Shipping

The Department of the Taoiseach has released an Operational update one-month on following the post-Brexit transition which includes highlighting the shipping trading relationships between Ireland-UK in addition developments of direct (in particular freight-ferry) connections with mainland Europe. • Reduced trade volumes on ROI/GB routes…

An AFLOAT photo of an Irish Sea ferry in stormy seas that also faces the ferry sector that is keenly felt at the north Wales port of Holyhead due to Brexit & Covid. While offshore south of Anglesey today, heavy seas and east winds has led to a trio of other merchant shipping vessels that took to the relative shelter off the Welsh coastline along the Llŷn Peninsula.

Stormy Seas Face Ferryport of Holyhead While Offshore Cargoships Ride Out the Weather

30th January 2021 Ports & Shipping

As stormy seas hit the commercial reality of a post-Brexit Holyhead ferryport, the UK Met Office marine forecast for the Irish Sea was up to severe gale force 9, with ships today riding out bad weather off Anglesey, writes Jehan Ashmore…

European Parliament adopted report on revision of Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) guidelines, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has welcomed.

European Parliament's Report on TEN-T Guidelines ESPO Welcomes

30th January 2021 Ports & Shipping

The European Parliament has adopted the report on the revision of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) guidelines (2019/2192(INI)) with a large majority. With the adoption of the own-initiative report last week, the Parliament set out its position on the upcoming…