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Irish Ports Stories
Small Is Beautiful as Cruiseships Call Closer to Capital
It's been some time since more than one cruiseship has moored on the River Liffey's Sir John Rogersons Quay, Dublin Port, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arriving from Douglas before sunrise was Zegraham Expeditions Clipper Odyssey (1989/5,218grt) which docked at berth No. 8,…
Port of Cork To Take Part in Heritage Day
On Saturday 27th August 2011, the Port of Cork will open its doors to the public from 11am until 4pm as part of Cork Heritage Day. The spectacular rooms of Custom House will be open to the public offering visitors…
Windsurfer Caught Out by High Winds in Galway Bay
Newstalk reports that an experienced windsurfer was rescued from Galway Bay on Sunday night. http://www.newstalk.ie/2011/news/galway-windsurfer-rescued-during-high-winds/ The crew of Galway's RNLI lifeboat were alerted at 4pm on Sunday afternoon after the windsurfer had been caught out by strong north-westerly winds. The…
Dundalk Dredger Docked in Dublin Port Is Up for Sale
As one of the consequences of the statutory transfer of operations from Dundalk Port Company to the Dublin Port Company in July, the grab-hopper dredger, Hebble Sand is up for sale, writes Jehan Ashmore. Last year Dundalk Port Company had…
Ferry Runs Aground off Doolin for Three Hours
The capsized Rolex Fastnet Race entrant Rambler 100 was not the only vessel that got into difficulties yesterday as an Aran Islands ferry became stranded off Doolin Pier, according to a report in today's Irish Times. Rose of Aran, a…
Sunshine and Wind for Cobh People's Regatta (Pics here)
The Cobh Peoples Regatta Took place at the weekend in Cork harbour. Every August the harbour becomes a focal point for a regatta where small local sailing and rowing craft gather for races and not to say the least some…
French OPV ‘Guard-ship’ to Follow Figaro Fleet From Dun Laoghaire
Tomorrow morning walkers at Dun Laoghaire Harbour's pier-heads will have close-up views of the departing Solitaire du Figaro race fleet and a French Navy patrol vessel, writes Jehan Ashmore. At 11 o'clock the third race-leg heads for Les Sables d'Olonne,…
UK Shipping Industry Rejects Emissions Trading Scheme
The UK's shipping industry has rejected the European Union's new emissions trading scheme, claiming it is unworkable in a global business. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/port-and-shipping-news/ The Guardian reports that campaigners have called for the inclusion of an emissions trading scheme as part of…
Naval Salvage Tug Docks in Cork City
This weekend the large German Navy salvage tug FGS Fehrmann (A1458) is on a visit to Cork City, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 1,289 gross tonnes auxiliary vessel built in 1967 berthed yesterday at North Custom House Quay adjacent to the…
Big Lips Kiss Dublin Bay
A cruise ship with a difference docked in Dublin Port today, the Aidablu displays a distinctly bold livery scheme of a giant red mouth and eyes emblazoned across the bow, writes Jehan Ashmore. Towering 15 decks above the oceans, the…
Titanic Belfast to Host Region's Largest Function Suite
Event bookings are already being taken for the new Titanic visitors' centre due to open next spring in Belfast. The €114 million Titanic Belfast is being contructed on the Belfast Lough site where the infamous cruise liner was itself built…
French Naval Vessel Escorts 'Figaro' Fleet to Dun Laoghaire
A French Navy offshore patrol vessel PSP Cormoran (P6277) that has been escorting the second leg of the La Solitaire du Figaro Race to Dun Laoghaire, is to dock tomorrow morning, writes Jehan Ashmore. The race fleet departed Ouistreham (Caen)…
Small Luxury Cruiseship Visits Killybegs
Ireland's leading fishing port of Killybegs, Co. Donegal, this morning received the 226 passenger yacht-like cruiseship Le Diamant, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 8,282 tonnes Le Diamant had sailed overnight from anchorage in Galway Bay and prior to visiting the 'City…
Veolia Environnement Clocks 15 Knots on Dublin Bay
The exotic French Trimaran Veolia Environnement was in Dalkey Sound this morning. The high speed craft circled around the island in modest north westerly winds and returned into Dublin Bay for what appeared to be a helicopter publicity-photoshoot. According to…
Tug-of-War to Visit Capital
An unusual visitor to Dublin Port in the form of the large German Navy salvage tug, Fehmarn (A1458) is to make a weekend courtesy call, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 1,289 gross tonnes Fehmarn (photo) is to arrive in the morning and…
Big Plans for Rosslare Europort
Ambitious plans to introduce load-on load-off (Lo-Lo) facilities at Rosslare Europort have been announced, according to a report in yesterday's Wexford People.   John Lynch, manager of the port talked about the expansion of the ports current role which is…

As an island economy, a healthy maritime sector is key to our national competitiveness. Virtually all our imports and exports pass through Irish ports.

Ireland is dependent on ports and shipping services to transport goods and 90% of our trade is moved though Irish ports. Shipping and maritime transport services make a significant contribution to Ireland’s ocean economy, with the sector generating €2.3 billion in turnover and employing over 5,000 people in 2018.

Ireland’s maritime industry continues to grow and progress each year with Irish ports and shipping companies making significant investments. The ports sector in Ireland is currently undergoing a number of expansions and developments with Dublin Port’s Alexandra Basin development, the development of Ringaskiddy in Cork by Port of Cork and the development of Shannon Foynes Port. Along with these major investments, shipping companies are also investing heavily in new tonnage, with Irish Ferries, CLdN and Stena leading new build programmes.

These pages cover the following sectoral areas: shipowners, harbour authorities, shipbrokers, freight forwarders and contractors, cruise liner operators, port users, seamen, merchants, academic institutions, shipyards and repair facilities, naval architects, navy and defence personnel.

Our pages are covering some of the most notable arrivals around our coast and reporting too on port development and shipping news.

This section of the site deals with Port and Shipping News on our largest ports Dublin Port, Port of Cork, the Shannon Estuary, Galway Harbour and Belfast Lough.

A recent study carried out for the Irish Ports Association (IPA) totalled 75.7 billion during 2004 and their net economic impact was some 5.5 billion supporting around 57, 500 full time employees.

Liam Lacey, Director of the Marine Institute’s Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) said, “The Irish maritime industry can look to the future with confidence. It has shown itself to be resilient and agile in responding to challenges. Over the past decade, it has had to respond to the challenges of the financial crisis of 2008, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and recent challenges. Ireland’s maritime sector has continued to underpin our economy by maintaining vital shipping links for both trade and tourism.”