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Irish Port and Shipping News
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…
Arvin was a river-sea cargo vessel type and vulanerable to storms
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 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.
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.
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.
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…