#Ports&ShippingReview: Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where Ecocem which has a plant in Dublin Port was issued the first self-handling stevedoring licence to enable unloading ships to cut costs.

Sospan Dau, a Dutch dredger started a €1.4m project in Rosslare Europort to remove 100,000m3 of sand generated by winter storms along the ferryport's breakwater.

Burke Shipping Group which acquired Greenore Port, thought to be in the region of €5m, will see the Co. Louth facility strategically located between Dublin and Belfast as the state's first significant port privately-owned.

A similar figure of €5m has been quoted for dredging Sligo Harbour, which poses a vexed question for Sligo County Council as there is doubt if such investment could be recovered from the harbour.

Since Stena Line confirmation to introduce the 'Superfast X' ferry on the Dublin-Holyhead route in early 2015, this poses the viability of the Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead service reopening?... let alone operated by a 'HSS' type fast-ferry?

At the "Cork Harbour Energising the Region" conference attended by Minister for Energy, Simon Coveney yesterday at the National Maritime College of Ireland, to highlight the role of various marine sectors, the minister announced 80 marine energy jobs.

#dAmicoGroup - Minister for Transport Paschal Donohue met the owners of the D'Amico Group, Cesare d'Amico and Paolo d'Amico, along with their senior management team in Dublin earlier this week according to the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).

The Minister welcomed d'Amico's continued commitment to investment in Ireland and interest in the development of the Irish maritime sector.

Minister Donohue stressed the Government's commitment to the growth of the Maritime Industry in Ireland, as encapsulated in the Harnessing Our Ocean's Wealth strategy.

The strategy sets out an ambitious programme of growth ultimately aiming to double the sector's contribution to Ireland's GDP and the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) is working to achieve the commercial targets laid out in the strategy.

d'Amico was one of the first international shipping companies to open up offices in Ireland after Ireland introduced a competitive Tonnage Tax regime in 2003. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, an independent report of the tax regime was launched in October.

The d'Amico Group are now part of the fabric of the Irish Maritime industry and continue to grow their presence in the market.

The IMDO were intrinsically involved in encouraging the d'Amico Group to first open up premises in Ireland in 2004 and continue to support the growth of their investment in Ireland.

D'Amico group currently employs around 40 people in their Dublin office and more than 1,500 globally. The jobs at the Dublin office are highly skilled and have been recruited directly in Ireland.

In addition d'Amico, provide training berths on their vessels to Irish cadets training at the National Maritime College in Ireland.

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

Irish News: Burke Shipping acquires Greenore Port – As reported also on Afloat.ie, Burke Shipping Group has acquired Greenore Port in Co Louth. The price paid for the port is not known but it is thought to be in the region of €5m. The company plans to invest a substantial sum in improving Greenore. It will be the first significant port to be entirely privately owned in the Republic.

EU Regulation: EU agrees law to make ships measure CO2 emissions - The shipping sector will for the first time have to monitor its carbon emissions under a law agreed by the European Union on Wednesday, intended as a step towards tackling a growing source of pollutants linked to climate change. International shipping accounts for around 3% of the world's emissions of carbon dioxide, a share which could increase to 18% by 2050 if regulation is not in place, according to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Tanker Market: Big tankers and bulkers gather speed -Very large crude carriers and capesize dry bulkers are speeding up due to cheaper bunker fuel as a result of the price of crude oil tumbling to around $67 per barrel, the lowest it has been since 2009. VLCCs and capesize dry bulkers have been sailing faster since September, when oil and bunker prices started to fall due to high production levels.

Ever larger containerships forecasted - Containership sizes are now nudging 20,000 TEU but that will not be the ceiling, as experts predict further upwards potential before capacities start to level off. Tom Boardley, marine director at Lloyd's Register, says it is not a matter of if, but when. "Obviously containerships have been getting bigger, as have ships across the whole fleet," he points out.

Emmissions: Shipping emissions at ports to quadruple by 2050, report says - Most shipping emissions at ports are set to increase fourfold through 2050, requiring strong abatement measures on shipping in targeted regions in coming decades, according to a new report by the International Transport Forum. Carbon dioxide and mono-nitrogen oxide emissions from ships in ports are forecast to rise up to 70 million metric tons and 1.3 million metric tons respectively by 2050, driven by growing demand for certain commodities and goods, the "Shipping Emissions in Ports" report said.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 49). In addition to dedicated coverage on Afloat.ie's Ports & Shipping News section.

#GreenorePort - Burke Shipping Group, the principal operating subsidiary of the Doyle Group, has The Irish Times writes acquired Greenore Port in Co Louth.

Previously the port was jointly owned by One51 and the state-owned Dublin Port Company. The price Burke Shipping paid for the port is not known but it is thought to be in the region of €5 million. Burke did not respond to requests for comment.

The company, which employs 300 people and has offices in all major Irish ports, is understood to plan to invest a substantial sum in improving Greenore. It will be the first significant port to be entirely privately owned in the Republic.

Burke Shipping plans to target the container and bulk shipping market and compete with the Dublin Port Company and other ports for this business.

Greenore is strategically located next to the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor, so it is capable of servicing both cities. For more on the acquisition by the group click HERE.

The group as previously reported were a potential bidder back in August.

More recently an investment in port infrastructure at their Dublin Port container terminal has further consolidated the company's business in the lo-lo sector.

#RosslareDredging - Sospan Dau a Dutch dredger has recently started work in Rosslare Europort where as previously reported, sand of around 100,000m3 is to be removed from the breakwater, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The harbour's port authority in Rosslare Europort, Iarnród Éireann was allocated funding of €1.4m to contract out the works and is to take some three weeks to complete. Previous sand accumulation at the breakwater has normally been just 11,000m3.

The 1978 built Sospan Dau is transferring the dredged sand to an area just outside the low-water off Rosslare Strand. The sand is understood to be expected to be naturally carried ashore and replenish the beach.

The accumulated sand built up at the Wexford port arose due to severe storms within a fortnight during January and February. A buoy was positioned to mark off this restricted area, for photo click here.

Accompanying the 1,546 tonnes trailing suction hopper dredger is the Irish flagged workboat tug Trojan which has carried out many projects among them the construction of the new Kilronan Harbour on Inishmore, Aran Islands.

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

Irish Shipping: Interest in live Shipping Grows - As reported in the Irish Independent interest in live-shipping is growing as a number of operators look to capitalise on rising demand in North Africa. Along with Cork-based livestock exporters, Curzon, the Louth group are hoping to avail of a 1,500hd, walk-on-walk-off ship that is currently in the final stages of the Department of Agriculture's licencing process.

International Shipping Regulation: International Maritime Organization (IMO) to approve measures to reduce red tape - The council of the IMO is likely to approve measures to reduce red tape when it meets next week, paving the way for wider acceptance of electronic reporting systems.

LPG Newbuild Guidelines: Creation of new Guidelines for Building and Operating gas-powered ships created-Key agreements in creating international rules on building and operating gas-powered ships have been made by regulators. As reported in Lloyds List the IMO has been working on taking guidelines on building and operating gas-powered ships and creating binding regulations that will not only be applicable to LNG-fuelled ships, but any other vessel using a fuel that has a low flashpoint such as methane.

Emissions Control: Update -The European Commission is considering legal action against Belgium, Spain, Cyprus and Hungary if they do not begin moves to translate EU rules on sulphur emissions from ships into domestic law within two months. The EU directive on the sulphur content of marine fuels should have been enacted into national law by 18 June 2014.

International Shipping: CMA CGM linked to acquisition rumours - Speculation surfaced last week linking the French line with German shortsea operator Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Rhederei. Details of an acquisition are thought to be imminent, with an announcement possibly early this week.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 48). In addition to dedicated coverage on Afloat.ie's Ports & Shipping News section.

#Ports&ShippingReview: Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where former officers, crew and staff attended a reunion to mark the 30th anniversary of Irish Shipping Ltd, the state company which went into liquidation in 1984.

The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) released figures that showed container shipping volumes, Lo/Lo have risen by 9% in the third quarter of 2014.

Arklow Shipping's fifth out of six B class general cargo 'green' newbuilds, Arklow Brave is to be christened and launched next month at a Dutch shipyard.

French global containership giant, CMA CGM in the third quarter, announced net profit of $201m as cargo volumes reached an all-time high and order for six mega 18,000TEU capacity ships due 2015.

#18,000containerships – According to LloydsList.com, French global containership giant, CMA CGM has joined the small group of container lines to produce good results in the third quarter, with a threefold increase in net profits to $201m as cargo volumes reached an all-time high.

Several other leading carriers lost money in the same period, the exception being Maersk, which outshone the rest of the industry.

Third-ranked CMA CGM achieved a return on invested capital of 8.2%, down from 10.3% a year earlier and below Maersk's 13.8%.

Consolidated turnover was 6.4% higher at $4.4bn, while cargo volumes rose 8.3% to 3.2m TEU. Average revenue per teu decreased by 1.8%.

The group, headed by founder and chairman Jacques Saadé, confirmed that the Ocean Three alliance with China Shipping and United Arab Shipping would launch in early 2015. The partnership was signed in September shortly after the P3 collaboration between Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Co and CMA CGM was disbanded following rejection by the Chinese competition authorities.

Ocean Three has already been approved by the Federal Maritime Commission in Washington without a detailed review because of its low market share in the US trades.

CMA CGM said its third-quarter performance had been underpinned by steady growth in the Asia-Europe, intra-Asia and Oceania trades.

The line has also expanded in West Africa through its Delmas subsidiary and recently purchased 7,000 new reefer containers. The target is to carry 1m reefer containers in 2015.

Operating costs per teu have declined by 0.4%. Bunker consumption per TEU fell 3.4 % compared with the third quarter of 2013.

The line said this mainly reflected higher vessel utilisation, plus continued energy-efficiency efforts, including modification of bulbous bows. This change, implemented in dry dock, optimises the vessel design to the speeds operated under slow steaming.

Modifications have already been made to 15 vessels, with 10 more planned. This results in fuel and CO2 emission savings in excess of 5% per voyage, the company said.

For the nine-month period, the group's turnover came to $12.5bn, a 4.3% increase over the year. Cargo liftings rose 7.4% to 9.1m teu, and the core operating margin was stable at $638m.

Looking ahead, CMA CGM said it would be taking delivery of six 18,000 TEU vessels in 2015. These are upgrades in the size of six newbuildings under construction in China and South Korea.

Lloyd's List revealed earlier in the year that the specifications of a trio of ships being built at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding have been enlarged from 16,000 TEU to a nominal 17,700 TEU.

This will be the first time a non-South Korean shipyard will construct ships of this capacity. Another three are being built by Samsung Heavy Industries.

When the order for these was originally placed, the size was to be 12,600 TEU.

CMA CGM said the final quarter was likely to be characterised by the usual seasonal volumes slowdown, freight-rate volatility and lower bunker prices, but that its volume growth should nevertheless exceed that of the market as a whole.

For further news stories and much more visit: the Lloyds List website HERE.

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

Irish Ports: Container shipping volumes rose by 9% in Q3 2014 - As previously reported on Afloat.ie, container shipping volumes Lo/Lo, rose by 9% in Q3. Ro/Ro experienced a 6% growth and Break Bulk volumes grew by 16%. This is in contrast however to total traffic volumes through Irish ports which fell by 3% overall in Q3, when compared to the same period last year.

Container Market: Record price drop on Asia-Europe routes - Box prices on the Asia-Europe trade fell nearly 21% this week representing the largest ever weekly decline on the route and effectively eroding recommended increases by carriers at the start of November. Last week's Shanghai Containerised Freight index shows that prices between Asian and European ports fell 20.5%, or $241, to $934 per TEU.

Shipping Lanes: Egypt hires German firm to bore transport tunnels under Suez Canal - Egypt will use machines made by a German firm to bore at least four tunnels under the Suez Canal, part of an $8 billion project to expand the waterway that the government hopes will raise revenues and foreign currency reserves.

International Shipping: Maersk Line plans fresh wave of megaship orders worth $1bn - Maersk Line will defend its position as the world's leading container carrier with a fresh wave of orders for ultra large boxships (ULCs). The liner giant is poised to splash out close to $1bn on its first order for mega size vessels since placing a ground breaking order for "EEE"-class vessels three years ago.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 47). In addition to dedicated coverage on Afloat.ie's Ports & Shipping News section.

#ArklowGreenNewbuild – Arklow Shipping's latest B class newbuild with 'green' credentials, Arklow Brave which is designed with a bulb-less hull form is to be christened and launched next month, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Brave follows a quartet of bulk orientated general cargo ships sisters, starting with leadship Arklow Bank launched in January from the Ferus Smit B.V. Netherlands shipyard in Westerbroek.

At 119m in length, Arklow Brave's slender bow form which also features a straight stem is designed to take into account the various loading drafts and wave conditions. She and her sisters are to be deployed in the shipment of wheat, corn and serve in other bulk commodity markets.

When the 4,800dwt Arklow Brave which is scheduled for launching on 12 December makes contact with the water, this will present a spectacular spectacle, given the yard's procedure of launching amidships or sideways. An example, being her predecessor, Arklow Bay... click HERE for report and footage!

The launch onto the waterway of Arklow Brave will represent the fifth out of a total of six B class ordered for the Irish company. She will serve under their Dutch based division, Arklow Shipping Netherlands N.V.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Arklow Bay which called to Dublin Port in late October, has returned in recent days and she is currently berthed at the Deep Water Berth (Coal Quay) along the south quays.

The newbuild on her previous call to the port had docked at the Boliden Tara Mines Ltd jetty which has a conveyor-belt loading system to transfer the zinc and ore cargo on board having arrived to the port by train. She then headed for the Norwegian smelting works at Odda.

Alongside the jetty today is a larger fleetmate, Arklow Willow at 14,001dwt albeit in a lay by capacity following routine maintenance in dry-dock that was carried out by Dublin Graving Docks Ltd.

When Arklow Brave is delivered to her Rotterdam based subsidiary, she will be part of a 46-strong fleet that includes a majority of Irish-flagged ships that carry cargoes mostly throughout northern Europe.