Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Irish Port and Shipping News
Temporary Measures To Minimise Impact Of Covid-19 On Ports & Shipping
Temporary measures are being put in place in relation to the validity of both seafarers’ documents and the survey and certification of Irish-registered ships impacted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Marine Notice No 14 of 2020 outlines measures…
File photo of Warrenpont Port, AFLOAT adds were Arklow Shipping general cargo ships meet (today the Arklow Rainbow arrived to the Co. Down port) having crossed the Irish Sea from Garston Port on the estuary of the River Mersey. On the right is the bunker tanker, Mersey Spirit managed by John H. Whitaker (Tankers) Runcorn. AFLOAT over the years as reported regularly when the small ship supplied fuel to diverse vessels throughout the Irish Sea. It is in this sea region that Seatruck Ferries operate as the main and only (ro-ro freight) customer out of Warrenpoint to Heysham. The UK port in Lancashire is where Seatruck also serve a Heysham-Dublin route in addition a Dublin-Liverpool link.
In reflecting on the ongoing public health crisis, Warrenpoint Port CEO David Holmes has issued a statement. “As the second largest port in Northern Ireland, we play a major role as a catalyst for economic growth across the region and…
“Transport keeps us going” - is a slogan in times of Covid-19 that the the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) is part of throughout the EU. ESPO represents the seaport authorities of all maritime Member States towards the EU institutions.
“Transport keeps us going” is the slogan which the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), together with 33 organisations has issued a Declaration stressing the essential role transport is playing in the corona crisis. "Transport and logistics play a crucial role…
Portree lifeboat approaches the grounded cargo ship MV Kaami
Eight crew were rescued from a cargo ship out of Drogheda that ran aground off the Isle of Skye in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides early yesterday morning (Monday 23 March). The MV Kaami had left Drogheda Port on the evening of…
Seafarer Wellness Conference to be held in Cork Harbour in a fortnight's time has now been postponed until Autumn 2020.
As Afloat previously highlighted the Seafarer Wellness Conference due to be held in Cork Harbour in a fortnight's time has now been postponed until the Autumn. The joint organisers of the Seafarer conference, the Ireland Branch Of The Nautical Institute (website) and…
Irish Freight Association has said there is no problem with the food supply chain.
Across the country's supermarkets have seen certain shelves completely emptied over the last week, as consumers stock up on tinned goods, hand soap and disinfectant products following confirmation of coronavirus cases in Ireland. According to research by iReach, one in…
File photo of the latest newbuild Arklow Ace (in centre, when still in construction) is the third of six A-series ships launched from a shipyard in the Netherlands. AFLOAT adds note the barge delivering a load of hatch covers and gantry to be lifted on board the newbuild.
The latest and third newbuild of the Arklow 'A' class series which is a bulk orientated general cargoship was launched at a Dutch yard, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Ace (Nb.439) took to the water for the first time as the…
European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) publishes statistics for committee meeting gender balance for 2019.
On the occasion of this year's International Women's Day, tomorrow, Sunday (8 March), the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) published the statistics for their committee meeting gender balance for 2019. All technical committees together, overall 31,76% of port professionals attending…
The Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow, Scotland which was nationalised. Scottish Government officials have denied claims of impropriety in the procurement of two ferries. AFLOAT adds above the first of the pair, Glen Sannox, for operator CalMac's Isle of Arran route from Ardrossan.
The director of aviation, maritime, freight and canals, Fran Pacitti of Transport Scotland, and head of the ferries unit, Chris Wilcock, rejected the allegations as they appeared before MSPs. In August last year, the Port Glasgow (Ferguson Marine) yard was…
Second on the left: Chairman of European Sea Ports Organisation (EPSO) Eamonn O’Reilly during the EPSO Award 2019 ceremony which was presented to the Port of Dover. Submission entries for this year are open until Friday 26 June.
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Social Integration of Ports is entering its 12th edition. The theme of this year is “Enhancing the port-city relationship by encouraging innovators and local start-ups to be part of the port ecosystem”.…
European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) is looking for a Senior Policy Advisor.
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) represents the port authorities, port associations and port administrations of the seaports of the 22 Member States of the European Union and Norway at EU political level. ESPO has also observer members in Iceland,…
On the bridge.... a conference: 'Seafarer Wellness: Are the signals being read? is to be held on 26 March at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Cork Harbour.
A conference seminar: 'Seafarer Wellness: Are the signals being read? is to be held on Thursday, 26 March (0900-17.00) at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), Ringaskiddy, Cork Harbour. Organisers of the conference is the Ireland Branch Of The…
COVID-19 reaction: The inactive container fleet has now surpassed levels recorded during the global financial crisis of 2008, as carriers slash capacity to stem losses. Above an AFLOAT photo of the Danish flagged Mette Maersk (see comments below from Maersk CEO) berthed at Felixstowe, the UK's busiest container port.
Container lines and their reacton to the lack of cargo export demand from China due to the coronavirus-induced (COVID-19) economic shutdown is becoming evident in record numbers of blanked sailings and inactive vessels. Some analysts now believe that prolonged disruption…
Aerial view of Dublin Port
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sports advises that updated templates for Port Security Plans for 2019-2024 have been made available. The Port Facility Security Plan template should be used for ‘Article 2.4 Single Facility’ ports where an approved assessment…
File photo: The unfinished Scottish Western Isles ferry Glen Sannox was launched on Clydeside in 2017 at Fergusons shipyard, two years before the complex was nationalised.
On Clydeside a troubled shipyard was "forced into administration" by the Scottish Government without giving the private sector time to save it, a dossier compiled by its former owner has claimed. Ferguson Marine, the last yard in Scotland still handling non-defence…
Work has continued ever since to reopen the historic UK Appledore shipyard (Afloat adds which built its last vessel in 2018 for the Irish Naval Service), but as of yet, no date for any reopening has been announced.
Councillors in Devon have urged the UK Government to hurry up and get a deal over the line to reopen Appledore Shipyard. Despite a union-led protest march, a 9,500-strong petition and the efforts of local MPs, the north Devon shipyard…