#CorkCruiseCallers – The Port of Cork cruise season is nearly over in a year that in total will welcome 60 cruise ships carrying in excess of 100,000 passengers and crew to the region, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Today two cruiseships are visiting Cork Harbour. They are Royal Caribbean Internationals Vision of the Seas (78,340grt) berthed at Cobh and upriver is Seabourn Cruise Line's luxury mega-yacht Seabourn Pride.

Seabourn Pride of nearly 10,000 gross tonnes and with just a 204 passenger capacity is berthed on the Lee at Custom House Quay (North), where yesterday the Naval Service OPV L.E. Emer (P21) was decommissioned.

Over the last 10 years, the Port of Cork has invested €8 million in upgrading and improving cruise facilities and this has made a major impact on the number of calls, increasing from 35 in 2005 to 60 for this year.

The Port of Cork has high aims to grow the number of cruise calls to 80 over the next five years and to increase turn-around calls and overnight stays.

Earlier this year, the Port of Cork announced details of their sister seaport agreement with PortMiami, the "Cruise Capital of the World".

The sister seaport agreement will benefit the Port of Cork and PortMiami in collaborating on the exchange of information and ideas, with the intended aim of increasing both cargo and cruise trade between ports.

The final cruise ship caller is Pheonix Reisen's Albatros (28,518grt) with a call also to Cobh in early October. She was launched as Royal Viking Sea four decades ago in 1973 and is to visit the lower Cork Harbour town for around half a day.

#CorkHarbour – As previously reported the Cork Harbour Open Weekend (14-15 Sept) programme is packed with lots of activities on offer for all ages and activities for all the family, both on and off the water. Why not try out sailing or visit an Irish Naval Ship or cheer on the dragon boats!

The open weekend is a great opportunity for people to see exactly what Cork Harbour has to offer, and this year is no exception with the second largest natural harbour in the world playing host to a number of events.

An Inter-Firm Dragon Boat Race on Lapps Quay Cork City organised by Meitheal Mara will take place on Saturday at 3pm, kayaking in Cobh and Cork City, a raft race organised by Scouting Ireland, a free open day at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Ringaskiddy and the Irish Naval vessel L.E.Orla will be open to the public for free tours on both Saturday and Sunday.

For anyone interested in trying their hand at sailing the world's oldest yacht club, RCYC in Crosshaven will open their doors to provide sailing for adults and children on Saturday at 11am. This is a great way for everyone to experience the wonderful sport of sailing within Cork Harbour.

Cork Boat Club in Blackrock invites the public to come along and tour their boathouse, meet the rowers and enjoy a coffee or some home baking in their café on Saturday at 11am.

To celebrate Cork Harbour Open Weekend, Cork County Council is offering individuals and families an opportunity to visit Spike Island to experience the rich history which this Island has to offer at significantly reduced rates. Children's Entertainment will be provided on both days from 12pm – 5pm with free guided tours of the Island taking place on the hour from 11am – 3pm departing from the Coffee Shop, Spike Island. The Cobh Animation Team dressed in appropriate period costumes will also be present. Visitors also have the opportunity to stroll on the 1.6km Glacis Walk, a walkway developed around the perimeter of the fort with its unique views of the harbour.

The ferry will leave Kennedy Pier, Cobh regularly from 11am – 3pm with return ferries available until 6pm on both days. The cost is €5 per adult and €15 per family (1adult& 3 children or 2 adults & 2 children, each additional child will cost €3).

Camden Fort Meagher will be hosting Military Re-enactments from the Celts, Romans right through to World War 1&2 with over 60 re-enactors on site. There will also be a fancy dress themed weekend with prizes for different categories. Admission details can be found on www.camdenfortmeagher.ie

In Cobh, there will be crab fishing for kids at The Promenade from 3 – 5pm on the Saturday, while on Sunday the Band 1 Southern Brigade will perform on the Victorian bandstand at 3pm.

Also in Cobh on both Saturday and Sunday, there will be a final opportunity to see the magnificent photograph exhibition on Cork Dockyard in Cobh Heritage Centre. Admission is free.

For anyone with an interest in the Lusitania tragedy, local historian Jack Gilmartin will attend the Lusitania graves in the Old Church Cemetery in Cobh and outline the town's links with the tragedy of the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, on Sunday at 2pm.

Taking place on Saturday, 15th September at 2.30pm will be an air/sea rescue demonstration in the lower harbour carried out by the Irish Coastguard. This is a super spectacle for everyone to watch from the shoreline and see the incredible work carried out by our Coastguard.

Aimed at embracing what Cork Harbour has to offer, the Cork Harbour Open Weekend aims to raise awareness of the different activities available for people in the harbour both on and off the water. It's a great day for all the family with many events are free to everyone.
The idea for a Harbour Open Day, now extended to a full weekend, emerged from discussions between various stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the Integrated Strategy for the Harbour in 2007. This has been taken forward by the Harbour Management Focus Group (HMFG) which meets quarterly to exchange information on Harbour issues. A HMFG working group comprising representatives from UCC, City and County Councils and the Port of Cork set about working together to engage users of the Harbour and to organise the Open Day.

For more information on Cork Harbour Open Weekend and see the full programme of events visit www.corkharbour.ie or email [email protected]

#Motoryacht - Luxury motoryacht M.Y. Fortunate Sun which has luxurious accommodation for 10 guests and 12 crew docked at the Port of Cork's City Marina yesterday, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported, the 851 gross tonnes vessel on a call to Dublin Port in 2011 became the largest vessel to transit through the Samuel Beckett swing-bridge. On her visit to Cork, the vessel is moored along the pontoon off South Custom House Quay.

She is registered in the Caymen Islands and the charter vessel  has a steel 54m long hull on a beam of 10.60m.  The streamlined aluminium superstructure and also interiors are the work of Tim Heywood Design.

The decade old vessel completed by Oceanfast of Australia is powered by 2x 1737kW MTU 12V 4000M70 diesel engines. This delivers a flat-out speed of 17.3 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles.

#CorkHarbour – Cork Harbour Open Weekend (14-15 September) as previously reported will also include a Harbour Photographic Exhibition of close to 200 photographs covering all aspects of the development of Cork Dockyard, the ships built and repaired.

The Cork Dockyard Ships & Shipbuilding photo exhibition sponsored by the Port of Cork Company was launched last week in advance of the Verolme Workers Gathering Weekend and is currently on view at Cobh Heritage Centre until 15 September.

The photographic display also includes photographs of the shipyard workers tracing the strong local history of shipbuilding in Cork Harbour, which was recognised at a ceremony held last weekend at the former Verolme Cork Dockyard, now the site of a ship-repair only business.

Meanwhile, Cork photographer Robert Bateman whose original work features in the exhibition has published a fascinating gallery online to celebrate the Verolme Workers Gahering weekend. View the gallery here.

#CorkHarbour – The Cork Harbour Open Weekend takes place on 14-15 September and once again organisers promise it to be an excellent weekend of fun for all the family, with many events held free of charge to the public.

The open weekend is a great opportunity for people to see exactly what Cork Harbour has to offer, and this year will be no exception with the second largest natural harbour in the world playing host too many different activities.

Events will take place in Cobh, Crosshaven, Ringaskiddy, Monkstown, Camden Fort Meagher, Spike Island and Cork City, spanning the entire harbour and showcasing all the best in Maritime heritage.

This year sees the return of the popular hop-on hop-off boat tour, free tours of an Irish Naval vessel will also be open to the public for both days in Cork City.

Organisers, the Port of Cork Company and Cork County Council are particularly excited about the raft race organised by the scouts on the River Lee which no doubt will be a great spectacle from Cork City quays.

While the programme of events is still coming together, organisers confirmed there will be an open day in the RCYC for anyone keen to try out sailing.

There's also a children's crab fishing competition in Cobh, a free open day at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), a rowing race around Spike Island, an Air Sea Rescue Demonstration and family fun on Spike Island.

Click link to download copy of the programme and the promotional poster.

Follow events on www.corkharbour.ie, Facebook and on Twitter @corkharbour using the hashtag #corkharbour13

#CorkCruiseCalls – The Port of Cork will be busy tomorrow as three cruiseships capable of carrying a combined total of 4,200 passengers are to visit the natural harbour, writes Jehan Ashmore.

First to make an entrance will be Celebrity Infinity followed by AIDAcara, a recent caller to Dublin Port and making up the trio, Club Med 2, which too called to the capital port today.

AIDAcara is to berth alongside Cobh Cruise Terminal while the other pair are due to dock at the Ringaskiddy Deep Water Berth.

As previously reported, the cruiseship sector is worth more than €40 million annually to the Cork economy.

August is the busiest month for the Port of Cork cruise season and by the end of this month the port will have welcomed 21 cruiseships alone and carrying up to 30,000 passengers.

By the end of the season, more than 60 cruiseships will have visited.

#Members of the public, former employees of Verolme Cork Dockyard in Cobh, Cork Harbour, their families are being invited to take a trip down memory lane and to remember the glory days of shipbuilding in Cork on 24th and 25th August 2013. Verolme Cork Dockyard employed over 1200 at its peak and closed in 1984, although ship repair is still carried out on the site. Cobh Tourism Ltd and a small committee have been planning this Gathering Ireland 2013 event for several months and have put together a comprehensive programme of events.

An opening ceremony will be held on Saturday 24th August at 11 am in the Promenade in Cobh followed by a series of shipping related lectures in the Commodore Hotel from 1 pm to 6 pm that are sponsored by Cobh Town Council and the Commodore Hotel.

The lectures will be on the Irish Naval Service by Cmdr. Steve Walsh, Irish Shipping Ltd – The First Fifteen Ships by the Rosslare Maritime Enthusiasts, Launching of a Ship by John Brennan, Heavy Lifting Platforms by Capt. Pat Murphy, Port of Cork and the History of Port of Cork by Capt. Pat Farnan.

From immediately after the lectures on Saturday there will be an informal social evening in the Commodore Hotel, commencing with a performance by local sea shanty group Molgoggers.

Also on Saturday there will be free tours of the VCD built Naval Patrol Vessel LE Aoife from 2 until 5 pm at the deepwater quay.

A photographic exhibition of close to 200 photographs covering all aspects of the development of the yard, the ships built and repaired, the many other projects completed and the people working there will be staged at Cobh Heritage Centre. This exhibition is generously sponsored by the Port of Cork and will run until 15th September. Admission is free.

Former dockyard workers and their families are invited to the official opening by Capt. Michael McCarthy on Thursday 22nd August at 6 pm.

On Sunday morning at 10 am there will be a remembrance mass in St. Colman's Cathedral and the baptismal font that was made by dockyard workers in 1970 and recently refurbished by former dockyard workers will be rededicated.

The unveiling of a Memorial at Cork Dockyard to all those who worked in the yard will take place at 11.45 am and this is open to everyone. From 12.15 until 4 pm there will be ongoing free guided tours of the yard and this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for former workers and their families to take a trip down memory lane.

As parking in the vicinity of the yard is limited, people are encouraged to take the train to Rushbrooke from either Cobh or Cork as so many employees did in the past. On Sunday trains from Cobh leave at 11.30, 12.30, 13.30, 15.00, 16.30, 17.30 and 18.30.

Trains from Kent station, Cork depart at 11.00, 12.00, 13.00 and 14.30.

The cruise liner Balmoral will be berthed in Cobh from lunchtime on Sunday, adding another family friendly activity to a town that is packed with things to see and do.

#Sea–fi– Following a successful trial period, the Port of Cork has announced details of their partnership with Ringaskiddy based company Sea-Fi Marine Data Communication Ltd. Sea-Fi is a wireless network covering the navigational areas of Cork Harbour, and up to 10 Km off Roches Point and over the last six months Sea-Fi have provided Wi-Fi on board the Port of Cork owned vessels, MV Denis Murphy and MV Gerry O'Sullivan.

This has proved very successful, allowing the work vessels send and receive emails, images and work reports from around Cork Harbour. It has also proven a time and money saver, eliminating the need for the work vessels and crew to go back to base for administrative purposes, as this can now be completed on board.

The partnership between the Port of Cork and Sea-Fi will see the roll-out of SeaFi Horizon™ WiFi for all visiting commercial vessels either sailing or on anchor inside and outside Cork Harbour. This is the first port in Ireland to have a fully operational Sea-Fi network.

Speaking about the partnership, Port of Cork Harbour Master, Captain Paul O'Regan said: "Following the successful trial period on board our tug and work-boat we are very pleased to announce this partnership with local based company Sea-Fi. Currently many commercial vessels using the Port of Cork use the internet via their on board sat-coms. Offering a Wi-Fi service will mean they have a more efficient service when transferring large data and faster download speeds which means cost savings for the ships equipped with a SeaFi Horizon™ ship station."

He continued: "Very often some crew have no access to the internet while in a port, but now with Port of Cork SeaFi Dockside™ service, crew will be able to access their emails, call their family with Voice over IP (VoIP) which will greatly improve crew welfare."

Initially this partnership will see the SeaFi Dockside™ being rolled out at Ringaskiddy Deepwater Berth, Tivoli Container Terminal and Cobh Cruise Terminal. This is not a marina style Wi-Fi network, but a highly advanced system capable of transferring large amounts of data, if required.

It is proposed in the future to roll out a similar service which would be offered to leisure craft using Cork Harbour.

#HeritageDay – Heritage Day 2013 is next Saturday 17 August and marks the start of National Heritage Week which runs to the 25 August.

As part of the Heritage Day, there will be an illustrated talk by RTE Radio 1 Seascapes presenter/ producer Marcus Connaughton.

The talk will be about the maritime heritage of our seafarers and maritime explorers who sailed the World's Oceans. "Maritime Heroes of An Island Nation- featuring Edward Bransfield; Tom Crean; Admirals Barry and Brown; John Philip Holland; Shackleton and many others."

This FREE event will commence at 2pm in the Port of Cork Boardroom, should you wish to attend, bookings can be made by contacting Sara Mackeown on (021) 462 5375.

On the same day the Port of Cork's Custom House Building will be open to the public between 11am – 4pm. Note, there is no parking available.

#CruiseDoubles – As previously reported earlier this week, August will be the Port of Cork's busiest month ever with 21 cruise liners alone scheduled to call, starting with the visit today of the ultra-luxury Sea Cloud and a double call tomorrow, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In total up to 30,000 cruise passengers will step ashore during the month bringing a welcome boost to the local economy. On five days throughout the month, there will be two cruiseships calling on the same day starting with HAL's Veendam and Saga Cruises relative newcomer Saga Sapphire.

Take a tour of Saga Sapphire with behind the scenes clips which includes farmers Ian and Lesley Buxton who have created more than a dozen 'Fusion Flavoured' ice-creams especially for the cruiseship's East to West restaurant.

On the 29 August the Port of Cork is to welcome not just two callers but three cruiseships visiting the harbour with calls to Cobh, Ringaskiddy and also involving an anchorage call off Whitegate.