Displaying items by tag: Celine Christening

19th April 2018

Big Day Ahead As World's Largest Short-Sea RoRo Vessel MV Celine to be Christened In Dublin Port

The sheer size of MV Celine is demonstrated in this starboard side elevation view of the giant ro-ro ship docking in Dublin Port (in January) where the 74,000grt newbuild is to be christened in a naming ceremony tomorrow, 20 April.

#DublinPort - A big day awaits Dublin Port and major customer, CLdN ro ro SA as their newbuild MV Celine, the world's largest short-sea ro-ro ship arrived in the port today in advance of tomorrow's christening ceremony, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The giant MV Celine of 74,000 gross tonnage will be christened and adopted by her Godmother,Geraldine O'Reilly wife of Dublin Ports CEO Eamonn O'Reilly at a ceremony to be held at Ocean Pier within Alexandra Basin. This is where a purpose-built flexible ro-ro ramp linkspan was installed in recent months to accommodate the requirements of the 234m long Celine.

Since Celine's introduction in October, the ship has added considerable capacity for Irish exporters with greater flexibility by trading with markets in continental Europe, in particular, given the backdrop of post-Brexit. More recently a sister, Delphine, joined the service connecting Dublin with Rotterdam, Netherlands and Zeebrugge from where the ship arrived from Belgium this morning.

The new berth infrastructure in Dublin Port permits the unloading and discharging of Celine's impressive 8,000 freight lane metre capacity. In addition to 600 freight units, easily surpassing the largest Irish Sea ro-ro ferry currently operating through the port to the UK.

The sisters can handle a wide range of cargoes, unaccompanied trailers, tank containers, project cargo, new cars and a capacity for 12 driver accompanied units. The ro-ro ships will also include a North Sea link from Belgium to the UK. Luxembourg based CLdN ro-ro SA also operate an extensive route network linking mainland Europe with Scandinavia and Iberia.

The South Korean built Celine is a clear indicator of increasingly larger tonnage that is expected to use the port. Construction of phase one of the Dublin Port Masterplan is already underway with the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) project that will enable larger ships to dock in port following dredging and realligned quays.

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About the Golden Globe Race

The Golden Globe Race is the original round the world yacht race. In 1968, while man was preparing to take his first steps on the moon, a mild mannered and modest young man was setting out on his own record breaking voyage of discovery. Off shore yacht racing changed forever with adventurers and sailors, inspired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, following in his pioneering wake. Nine men started the first solo non-stop sailing race around the World. Only one finished. History was made. Navigating with a sextant, paper charts and an accurate and reliable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world. In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since that first record breaking achievement, the Golden Globe Race was resurrected. It instantly caught the attention of the worlds media as well as adventures, captivated by the spirit and opportunity. The original race is back.

The Golden Globe Race: Stepping back to the golden age of solo sailing

Like the original Sunday Times event back in 1968/9, the 2018 Golden Globe Race was very simple. Depart Les Sables d'Olonne, France on July 1st 2018 and sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables d'Olonne. Entrants are limited to use the same type of yachts and equipment that were available to Robin Knox-Johnston in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or benefit of satellite-based navigation aids.

Competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 10.97m) designed prior to 1988 and having a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge. These yachts will be heavily built, strong and steady, similar in concept to Robin's 32ft vessel Suhaili.

In contrast to the current professional world of elite ocean racing, this edition travels back to a time known as the 'Golden Age' of solo sailing. Suhaili was a slow and steady 32ft double-ended ketch based on a William Atkins ERIC design. She is heavily built of teak and carried no computers, GPS, satellite phone nor water-maker, and Robin completed the challenge without the aid of modern-day shore-based weather routing advice. He had only a wind-up chronometer and a barograph to face the world alone, and caught rainwater to survive, but was at one with the ocean, able to contemplate and absorb all that this epic voyage had to offer.

This anniversary edition of the Golden Globe Race is a celebration of the original event, the winner, his boat and that significant world-first achievement. Competitors in this race will be sailing simple boats using basic equipment to guarantee a satisfying and personal experience. The challenge is pure and very raw, placing the adventure ahead of winning at all costs. It is for 'those who dare', just as it was for Knox-Johnston.

They will be navigating with sextant on paper charts, without electronic instruments or autopilots. They will hand-write their logs and determine the weather for themselves.

Only occasionally will they talk to loved ones and the outside world when long-range high frequency and ham radios allow.

It is now possible to race a monohull solo around the world in under 80 days, but sailors entered in this race will spend around 300 days at sea, challenging themselves and each other. The 2018 Golden Globe Race was a fitting tribute to the first edition and it's winner, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Background on Don McIntyre (61) Race Founder

Don is an inveterate sailor and recognised as one of Australia s greatest explorers. Passionate about all forms of adventure and inspiring others, his desire is to recreate the Golden Age of solo sailing. Don finished 2nd in class in the 1990-91 BOC Challenge solo around the world yacht race. In 2010, he led the 4-man Talisker Bounty Boat challenge to re-enact the Mutiny on the Bounty voyage from Tonga to West Timor, in a simil