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Displaying items by tag: Fenit Harbour company

#FenitExpansion? - A feasibility study to explore the possible expansion of Fenit Harbour is to carried out next year according to Radio Kerry.

Kerry County Council will spend almost €1 million in 2017 on the operation and promotion of the harbour. This includes staff costs and maintenance of the pier, marina and lighthouse.

The council says the development of an assembly hall and office by Liebherr Container Cranes consolidates the company’s position in Fenit Harbour.

An example of the crane export trade Afloat.ie reported in 2012 of what was then believed to be the largest ever ship to dock at the port the heavylift ship HHL Valparasio (2010/17,634grt).

The Liberian flagged vessel called to the south-west port to load a pair of ship-to-shore container cranes bound for the US. 

Published in Ports & Shipping

#ShippingCRANES- Since Friday, the Stade, a 7,850 tonnes multi-lift cargo vessel has been at anchorage off Fenit Harbour, Co. Kerry, awaiting to berth, so to load container components from the Liebherr plant in Fossa, Killarney, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Due to weather conditions, the 146m long vessel which had sailed from Zeebrugge, is not expected to moor alongside Fenit Pier until tomorrow morning, weather permitting.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the international crane manufacturer's Irish based plant, has an order from the New Zealand south island port of Lyttelton, for four straddle-container carriers, due for delivery in mid-2013.

The export of container cranes are the port's only major commercial customer. Last August  the port handled its largest ever vessel, the heavylift ship HHL Valparasio (2010/17,634grt) which departed with two ship-to-shore container cranes bound for the USA.

Published in Ports & Shipping

#SHIPPING CRANES – In what is believed to be the largest ship ever to dock in Fenit, Co. Kerry, the heavylift ship HHL Valparasio (2010/17,634grt) departed this afternoon with two ship-to-shore container cranes bound for the USA, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Liberian flagged heavylift ship is transporting the cranes to Elizabeth Port, in New Jersey and were manufactured by Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd based in Fossa, outside Killarney.

The Swiss family owned business has been operating with its Irish base since 1958 and has a workforce of 560 employees. The manufacturing facility is part of a global group with more than 35,000 employees in more than 130 companies, in which the company was established in 1949 by founder Hans Liebherr.

As HHL Valparaso departed Fenit pier, two tugs assisted the 168m long vessel which had previously made her outward bound trans-Atlantic voyage from Norfolk, Virginia. On board was cargo of grain which was unloaded in Dublin Port earlier this month.

The two-year old vessel (P2 class) is owned by German operator Hansa Heavy Lift GmBH based in Hamburg and she was built by the Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group in Shanghai, China. The vessel belongs to a fleet of 21 multipurpose heavy-lift freighters engaged in the heavy-lift and project market.

The ships' on board cranes have  harnesses of a combined lift capacity of 1,400 tons and facilitate the loading and discharging of cargoes around the world – independent of the local infrastructure.

With today's crane cargo which forms the only major business running out of Fenit, which has operated as a commercial port since 1887, the Co. Kerry harbour has had 12 such shipments in 2012. According to Liebherr a further seven such exporting cargo-calls are scheduled for the rest of this year.

Published in Ports & Shipping

Fenit Harbour Company has launched a new website to promote its harbour and marina facilities, one of the most westerly marinas in Europe. Using the slogan, 'Tralee's Hidden Gem', Chairman of the Harbour commissioners, Brian O'Sullivan outlined plans for the harbour and its 'untapped potential' at an official launch at nearby Tralee Bay Sailing Club last Friday. The new website is HERE.

Published in Coastal Notes

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