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Irish Port and Shipping News
Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South Sean Kelly has been appointed lead author in finalising the draft legislation.  Above Afloat adds an Irish Sea ro-ro freighter arriving at Warrenpoint Port, Carlingford Lough
The European Union has drafted legislation that aims to strengthen its hand in taking action against the UK over possible breaches of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and EU-UK trade deal. It comes after the UK published legislation to give ministers…
The EU Commission has also announced fresh legal action over the alleged failure of the UK to build and staff border control posts at Northern Ireland ports
Legal action has resumed by the EU against the UK following the publication of the bill that would overturn the Northern Ireland Protocol. A senior EU official has warned that the UK could be brought before the European Court of…
N.I. Protocol Trade Dispute: Senior Italian, Dutch and Austrian ministers all accused the UK of threatening to break international law. Above freight trucks at a ferry terminal in Belfast Harbour.
Senior figures from EU member states have threatened a strong response to the UK's legislation. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz yesterday hinted at trade measures against the UK, while the EU's chief negotiator, Maroš Šefčovič, said the European Commission could resume…
Senior EU figures have threatened a strong response to the UK pressing ahead with a bill that would overturn the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The legislation on the Northern Ireland Protocol published by the British government yesterday, has been decribed by the Taoiseach as "anti-business and anti-industry". Speaking on his way into Cabinet this morning, Micheál Martin said the action by the UK represented…
Ship Splash as C class coaster Arklow Cove took to the water with a launch at the weekend. The newbuild will join fleetmates that trade in cargoes among them grain.
At the weekend Arklow Cove was launched from a Dutch shipyard that now brings to the ninth newbuild of 10 'C' class coasters on order by the Co. Wickow shipowner, writes Jehan Ashmore. The sideways launch of Arklow Cove at…
Trade Relationships: The Irish Government and the European Union have warned against unilateral action by the UK Government and urged a return to the negotiating table. The above scene shows trade in lo-lo freight units in Belfast Harbour from where several routes operate on the Irish Sea to and from ports in Britain.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has told Britain's Foreign Secretary that proposed legislation to change to Northern Ireland Protocol will create a whole new set of uncertainties and damage relationships. The British government is due to publish details…
PeelLandP has formally submitted a planning application to Wirral Council to build a £25m world class maritime centre of excellence at WirralWaters. The plans submitted is to regenerate Wirral’s proud maritime heritage.
On Merseyside, Peel L&P has formally submitted a planning application to Wirral Council to build a £25m world class maritime centre of excellence focused on innovation, engineering, R&D, entrepreneurship and training within the heart of Wirral Waters. The proposed Maritime…
Eamon Ryan
New binding targets for greenhouse gas reductions in shipping are among a range of measures agreed today (Friday 3 June) by EU transport ministers today to reduce emissions in the transport sector in the coming decade. The new measures, which…
At the European Sea Port Organisation conference was released their 2022 report on 'Trends In Ports' governance.
On the first day of the European Sea Ports Organisation conference held in Valencia, Spain, the organisation today released their “Trends in EU Ports’ Governance 2022” report.  Both the public role and commercial expectations are on the rise for European…
European Sea Ports Organisation adopts the Valencia Declaration on empowering Europe’s ports which took place in the Spanish port city which is host to their annual two-day conference. The role of ESPO is represent the seaport authorities of all maritime Member States towards the EU institutions.
In advance of European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) conference in Spain, its members met in Valencia for its General assembly yesterday (1st June), where they have agreed on the following Declaration: Europe’s seaports played a strategic and essential role throughout recent…
Global tug operator, Svitzer has announced a decarbonisation strategy that aims to become fully CarbonNeutral  by 2040. Svitzer along with Robert Allan design teams is to introduce the less fuel consuming TRAnsverse tug (above) which is due to enter operation from Q3 2023. AFLOAT adds the company has a base located in Belfast Harbour served by pair of tugs, Svitzer Sarah and Svitzer Sussex.
A global towage operator, Svitzer and part of shipping container giant A.P. Moller-Maersk, has unveiled its decarbonisation strategy that will see the company become fully carbon neutral by 2040. The strategy will see Svitzer decarbonise in two phases. Firstly, Svitzer…
Film Premiere: At the Water’s Edge: Stories of the Irish Sea. Leaders of the project and dignitaries at the film premiere in Wales last week, incl. from L to R, Aberystwyth Mayor Talat Chaudhri, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden MS, Pro Vice-Chancellor Faculty of Earth & Life Sciences Professor Neil Glasser and Dr Rita Singer, Project Coordinator.
In Wales the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sports has launched a new film charting the histories and life of five port towns in the Principality and Ireland. The film premiered at Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth, on the series of…
EcoClipper, the sustainable sail-cargo shipping company has announced it will partner with broker New Dawn Traders for the upcoming 2022 season.
EcoClipper's first ship, the sailing Ketch ‘De Tukker’ in August will be carrying cargo and passengers on the North Sea, through the English Channel to ports as far south as Porto, Portugal. To facilitate the process of finding and organising cargo…
ESPO Secretary-General Isabelle Ryckbost and Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan
At a meeting between the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) and global trade association Interferry, a common work programme was agreed to promote an environmentally sustainable future for the European ferry business through the provision and use of onshore power…
The Irish Maritime Transport Economist, Volume 19 cover
The 19th and latest edition of the Irish Maritime Transport Economist, a report produced by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) on Ireland’s maritime freight industry, has been published today (Monday 23 May) and makes for encouraging reading for the…
The growth driven by increases in exports of medical and pharmaceutical products according to  CSO figures. A containership Afloat adds with tugs assisting, departs the Port of Cork when underway off Haulbowline and bound for the USA.
Unadjusted exports of goods from Ireland, exceeded €20 billion in a month for the first time in March, driven mainly by growth in the exports of medical and pharmaceutical products, as well as organic chemicals, new data from the Central…