Dublin Bay saw some ships of interest today, firstly the heavy-lift general cargoship Eendracht that arrived in Dun Laoghaire Harbour today to load a part project-cargo bound for the US, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Eendracht berthed this morning after taking a pilot from the Dublin Port cutter Liffey and according to the ships agent, the almost 3,000grt ship was scheduled to call into Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Afloat hightlights that the arrival of a commercial vessel is relatively rare to the south Dublin Bay port, as in recent years ships have increased to the granite built harbour. The calls have been for diverse reasons, among them for maintenance to layover periods. 

As for cargo call, Eendracht only loaded 110 tons. It was much easier an exercise compared to calling to a busier Dublin Port, given the recent disruption to shipping as adverse weather battered Dublin Bay with ships forced to anchor or seek shelter elsewhere.

In fact among the affected ships was Eendracht which took shelter off Moelfre, Anglesey.

The ship had sailed from Rotterdam with part project cargo but is different to the Irish call's load.

The vessel equipped with two deck mounted heavy-lift cranes is to depart this evening and bound for the Port of Houston. One of the world's largest ports and serving the metropolitan area of Houston in Texas.

On the ferry scene, Afloat observed the Corsica-France ferry, Mega Express Four make a maiden commercial crossing this afteroon from the capital to Holyhead, while on charter to ICG's division Irish Ferries. The ferry is to provide replacement cover of the ferry fleet when off service for annual overhaul dry-dockings. 

The distinctive yellow hulled ferry made for an odd sight with it owners marketing name of Corsica Ferries/Sardinia Ferries placed amidships. This sighting took place as the ferry rounded the Dublin Bay Buoy.

About an hour later was tracked Stena Europe, transferred from a temporarily closed Rosslare-Fishguard route. This afternoon's sailing is the first to Holyhead so to enable relief cover of routine overhaul of the Irish Sea route's ferry.

Also berthed in Dun Laoghaire as a base are two vessels related to carrying out geophysical survey work for the Dublin Array -a wind farm project as Afloat previously reported.

The vessels are the Fugro Mercator, at 360 grt, is a small ship which was working offshore of Dalkey Island in seas including Killiney Bay. Fastnet Pelican formed the second vessel which is of a craft built to a catamaran design.