Displaying items by tag: Cork Harbour Makeover

9th January 2015

IMDO Market Review: Cork Harbour €1bn Makeover, US Port Congestion, China Deregulate Port Tariffs, European Banks Resume Lending

#Port&Shipping –The latest IMDO Weekly Market Review includes the following stories as detailed below.

Irish Ports: Cork Harbour to Get €1bn Makeover into 'Sydney of Europe' - Over 100 years of under-investment and problematic industrial projects has left Cork with a depressing harbour legacy. Now, however, under a landmark redevelopment programme by Marine Minister Simon Coveney, the aim is to transform Cork into the 'Sydney of Europe' by the end of 2018.

Global Maritime News: Long Beach and LA seek FMC permission to work together on congestion - The US west coast ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have filed a petition with the US Federal Maritime Commission that will enable them to work together to help ease the flow of cargo. The ports want to collaborate with each other on matters including rail operations, chassis supply and storage, vessel calls, truck turn times and marine terminal operations.

Chinese Ports: China further deregulates port tariffs - China has moved closer to fully deregulating port tariffs in the government’s latest market-based reform, which analysts said will have positive but limited impact on terminal firms’ business operations. The Chinese transport ministry and National Development and Reform Commission will not set mandatory or guideline prices for terminal operators handling containers, dry bulk and passengers from next January.

European Banks: In search for yield, European banks hop back on board shipping industry - European banks are resuming lending to shipping companies after staying away from the industry since the financial crisis, as seen on Hellenic Shipping News. Germany, British, French and Norwegian banks were traditionally predominant lenders to the capital-intensive industry until 2008, when the crisis sent several high-profile lenders into distress, leaving their shipping portfolios with non-performing loans.

Irish Exports: Ireland granted full access to US beef market - Ireland is to be the first European country to be granted full access for its beef in the US market after the US lifted a ban on European beef imports. The ban had been in place for almost 16 years, since the BSE crisis in the 1990s. The announcement represents a multi-million euro boost for the Irish beef industry.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 1). In addition to dedicated coverage Afloat.ie's Port & Shipping news section.

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Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro.

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race.

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind.

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

It starts in June or July from a French port.
The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
Since 1990, all boats are of one design.