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Displaying items by tag: MV Island Sky

#ARAN ISLANDS CRUISE CALL – Two vessels, a cruiseship and a lighthouse tender are today off Kilronan, the capital of Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The ships are the 114 passenger cruiseship Island Sky (1992/4,200grt) operated by Noble Caledonia which called this morning having originally departed in Portsmouth and the Commissioners of Irish Lights tender ILV Granuaile (2000/2,365grt) which is based in her homeport of Dun Laoghaire.

Kilronan will be a hive of activity, not just those passengers tendered ashore from the cruiseship but also tourists arriving by frequent ferry services from Rossaveal, Co. Galway and Doolin in Co. Clare. The majority of sightseers will no doubt be heading for the main attraction of Dun Aengus fort on the far side of the island which is reached by shuttle buses and the traditional pony and trap.

The Island Sky's sister the Caledonian Sky which too is operated by the same company made yesterday an anchorage call off Sneem Co. Kerry.  It is along the western seaboard that such smallships are attracting a niche market. In addition it is in these same waters is where ILV Granuaile is more often to be found working during the summer months as the weather is more favourable to carry out aids to navigation duties.

Unlike the cruiseship, the lighthouse tender does not actually anchor. Instead she can maintain a constant position using dynamic positioning (DP) which uses satellite technology to adjust the vessels manouvering systems to precise pin-point accuracy.

Published in Island News

About Warrenpoint Port

The Original Port of Warrenpoint was constructed in the late 1770s and acted as a lightering port for the much larger Port of Newry.

Following the demise of Newry Port Warrenpoint Harbour Authority was created as a Trust Port by legislation in 1971. The modern Port was completed in 1974 when it covered 28 acres. Since then the port has expanded to its current size of approximately 53 Acres. The Authority has just completed a £22 Million capital infrastructure project (under the terms of a Service of General Economic Interest with the Department for Regional Development) that includes, the construction of a 300 Metres of Deep Water Quay (7.5 Metres C.D), new Ro-Ro berthing facilities, additional lands and covered storage facilities and a new 100 Tonne mobile crane.

  • Warrenpoint Port is the second largest port in Northern Ireland and the fifth-biggest on the island of Ireland.
  • Warrenpoint Harbour Authority was created as a Trust Port by legislation in 1971.
  • In 2018, the value of goods moving through Warrenpoint Port was £6.5 billion. The Port handled 3.56 million tonnes in 2017, increasing to 3.6m in 2018.
  • The port employs 70 staff directly and supports over 1,500 in the local economy.
  • In addition to serving the markets in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, the Port deals with imports and exports from countries and regions across the world including to Spain, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine and the Americas.