Irish Ports Stories

The LÉ Eiithne during a humanitarian rescue mission operation in the Mediterranean Sea

Naval Service Vessels Will Not Patrol Mediterranean Sea

10th July 2019 Naval Visits

A number of Irish Naval Service vessels, RTE reports, will not be able to patrol the Mediterranean Sea to assist with the rescue of migrants, the Taoiseach has told the Dáil. Leo Varadkar said that as three Irish naval vessels…

The Port of Waterford has welcomed the arrival of containership ‘BG Rotterdam’ as seen during its call to the port last Saturday (6th July). According to the port, this new connection operated by BG Freight Line, in partnership with Maersk, will be a weekly service, acting as a deep-sea feeder for businesses in Ireland trading globally through Rotterdam which is Europe’s largest seaport. The aptly named containership is seen underway and AFLOAT also has identified above the background of the decommissioned Duncannon Fort and berthed fishing vessels located at the promontory on Waterford Estuary.

Port of Waterford: New Freight Route to Rotterdam Opens

10th July 2019 Ports & Shipping

The Port of Waterford has a new freight shipping route to Rotterdam which has opened a new pathway between Ireland and the continent which could help exporters post-Brexit. The first sailing on the Waterford-Rotterdam route, RTE reports, is operated by Dutch…

Scottish Skipper Departs With Stinging Attack on Ferry Service

10th July 2019 Ferry

A Scottish ferry master with decades of experience sailing on the west coast has hit out at the management of the lifeline service and the “inadequacy” of current quayside infrastructure. As pressure mounts on the islands according to The Herald,…

Projects at Dublin Port include (MP2) to permit building bigger berths for larger ships to cope with increased traffic. AFLOAT adds above is berthed a ferry (centre) containership and a tanker where (read below) related proposed plans for these vessel type's form the port's masterplan's second stage.

Port of Dublin Seek Planning Permission for €320m Expansion

10th July 2019 Dublin Port

The Dublin Port Company is seeking planning permission for an estimated €320 million worth of projects that make up the second stage of its main expansion plan. The State-owned company, writes The Irish Times, is working on a masterplan that…

At close quarters presents an impressive view of the bow of BMAS Rhône a support vessel of the French Navy which entered service this year. AFLOAT adds the call of the newbuild from Cherbourg to Waterford City was a maiden first to an Irish port as the vessel berthed at the Frank Cassin Wharf opposite of Waterford Marina as seen on the left.

Newbuild French Navy Support Vessel Pays First Visit to Ireland

9th July 2019 Naval Visits

A French Navy offshore support and assistance vessel which was commissioned into service earlier this year visited Waterford City over the weekend, writes Jehan Ashmore. The impressive Loire class or Metropolitan Support and Assistance Building (BSAM) Rhône entered service in…

Cobh: The sound from passenger announcements, music played on external decks and alarm sirens have been irking some local residents. Above Afloat adds is a RCI cruiseship docked at the town located in lower Cork Harbour.

Cruise Callers Docking in Cobh Warned to Keep the Noise Down

9th July 2019 Cork Harbour

When cruiseships dock in Cobh they have been warned to keep quiet by the Port of Cork. The busy port, writes Echolive, which sees up to 100 cruise liners docking throughout the year in the tourist town, has issued a…

It’s a Race Ready venue– Dublin Bay and Dun Laoghaire Harbour provide world class sailing right on the capital city’s doorstep

Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2019: Olympic Medalists & World Sailing Champions Come to Town

9th July 2019 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News

The Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta has something for everyone at all levels of sailing writes W M Nixon. It’s an event which attracts sailors who have reached the highest levels of international competition ranging through Olympic Medalists and America’s Cup…

Minister denied two Naval Service ships were docked over crew shortages, citing ‘maintenance’. Above AFLOAT adds is one of the two patrol vessels involved, flagship LÉ Eithne seen underway in 2017 off Cobh, Cork Harbour. The HPV was then heading for its 3rd deployment to the Mediterranean Sea to assist in humanitarian operations.

Docked Ships: Political Row Deepens Over Naval Ships

8th July 2019 Navy

The political party Fianna Fáil has called on Minister for State for Defence Paul Kehoe to publish documents that would confirm his assertion that two Naval vessels as Afloat previously reported are docked for maintenance and not because the Naval…

Ross Nolan and Gordon Patterson were Squib South Coast winners

'Fagin' Wins Kinsale Yacht Club Squib South Coast Championships

7th July 2019 Squib

Oh to be in Kinsale on a sunny Saturday with a breeze watching the wonderfully named Fagin, Outlaw, Slipstream, Allegro, Nimble and Kanaloa zipping around offshore marks battling like gladiators in Squibs for best positions at windward and leeward buoys,…

Dublin Port Chief Receives Apology From Cruise Ship Campaign Over Press Releases

7th July 2019 Dublin Port

Dublin Port’s chief executive has received an apology over press releases from a campaign against the end of cruise liner arrivals to the port that he claimed were defamatory, as The Irish Times reports. Lorcan O’Connor, a director of Carroll’s…

Turnover in Belfast Harbour up 11 per cent to £68.8 million as trade rises by 900,000 tonnes year on year. AFLOAT adds CMA-CGM's containership Nicolas Delmas berthed in the port close to the VT4 Terminal for Stena Line's service to Cairnryan, Scotland.

Record Trade through Belfast Harbour Hits 24.6m Tonnes

5th July 2019 Belfast Lough

A record 24.6 million tonnes of trade was handled in Belfast Harbour for the first time in its 400-year history last year, latest financial accounts show. Trade increased by 900,000 tonnes year on year, which The Irish Times reports has…

Pre-start manoeuvres before the second stage. The historic Cong-Galway Race attracts a mixed fleet, with catamarans setting the pace. Photo: Pierce Purcell

King Cong Trophy on Lough Corrib Won by Yannick & Sean Lemonnier

5th July 2019 Galway Harbour

A group of onlookers gathered at the Quincentennial Bridge across the River Corrib immediately north of Galway city last Saturday evening were bemused by the sight of a series of sailing dinghies toppling themselves over to float underneath reports John…

Two ships, the LÉ Eithne helicopter patrol vessel (above) which has been in service since 1984, and the LÉ Orla coastal patrol vessel in service since 1988, have been tied up.

Government Package on Military Pay & Allowances Will Not Ease Naval Service Crew Shortage Which Has Tied Up Two Ships

4th July 2019 Navy

Two of the State’s nine Naval Service fishery patrol vessels will remain tied up indefinitely, in spite of the 10.1 million euro annual package of military salary and allowance increases approved by Government yesterday writes Lorna Siggins. The Government package…