A Cameroon-flagged cargoship at the Port of Sligo that was detained following Afloat's coverage of the ship's arrival more than two weeks ago to the north-west port has been released from impoundment today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

According to the Paris MoU, the Sheksna had been placed under detention at the Irish port on 16th October, which coincided on the same day of Afloat's report and two days after the ships arrival from the Mediterranean port of Sfax in Tunisia.

The Paris MoU is an international maritime organization whose mission is to eliminate the operation of sub-standard ships. This is carried out by a harmonized system of port State control including 27 maritime administrations, among which Ireland is a member State.

Afloat earlier today contacted the Department of Transport which commented that the ship was detained under the provisions of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and that the detention involved the ship's flag state which is Cameroon. The west African nation on the Gulf of Guinea neighbours Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. 

On Tuesday of this week Afloat tracked the 2,769dwt cargoship Sheksna which was noted still berthed at Sligo. This was surprising given the 82m ship has been berthed at the port's Deepwater Quay for almost a fortnight but explained by the ship's impounding carried out by the Irish Marine Survey Office (MSO). 

Afloat contacted the Port of Sligo which confirmed Sheksna had over 2,000 tonnes of olive stone granulate. The cargo was discharged before the MSO impounded the ship.

This afternoon the Port of Sligo informed Afloat that the Sheksna is no longer detained. 

In addition the 26 year old cargoship will sail light (without cargo) tomorrow after noon on the tide. 

#Detention - A Maltese-flagged cruiseship still remains under detention in Dublin Port having arrived in the capital almost three weeks ago, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Authorities, Paris MoU, the official body responsible for eliminating the operation of sub-standard ships (see list) detained the diminutive luxury megayacht cruiseship Variety Voyager on 1 August.

Five days previously, Variety Voyager at just 1,593 gross tonnes had according to Dublin Port website docked on 27 July.  This is only the second season that operator, Variety Cruises has deployed the 2012 built ship in Irish waters. The 72 guest /36 cabin vessel is among an eclectic fleet of 8 cruiseships including sail-assisted vessels. 

The Paris MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) consists of the 27 participating Maritime Authorities that agree to implement a harmonized system of Port State Control. The detention of Variety Voyages was imposed through a harmonized system of port State control. Ireland is a member of the Paris MoU along with countries throughout Europe, Canada and Russia.

Originally Variety Voyager had arrived at Ocean Pier's Berth 35. The detention however led to the ship shifting berths  upriver to Sir John Rogersons Quay Berth No. 8 which is designated a cruise-berth which is sited closer to the capital's city centre.

As a reference point to Berth 8's location, the restored 'Diving Bell' painted in bright orange is located close to Variety Voyager. 

Coincidentally the last detained cruiseship in Dublin Port, Berlin also Maltese flagged, was berthed yesterday in the capital too.  

Berlin just shy of 10,000 gross tonnes is operated by FTI Cruises. The 400 passenger capacity cruiseship was detained for three days in June. On this occasion, the 1980 built ship, yesterday occupied North Wall Extentsion, the next nearest cruise berth to Sir John Rogersons Quay.

Afloat will be monitoring as to when the cruiseship will finally make a departure. 

#Detained - A Dutch flagged general cargoship that was due to Dublin Port last night remains under detention in Wicklow Port having discharged packaged timber, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Irish maritime authorities detained the 2010 built Crown Mary on behalf of the Paris MoU in which Ireland is a member of the organisation. The mission of the Paris MoU is to eliminate the operation of sub-standard ships through a harmonized system of Port State Control. A list of ships that are currently under detention in the Paris MoU region can be consulted here.

The 2,622 gross tonnage Crown Mary had sailed from New Holland, located on the Humber Estuary opposite Hull, a major North Sea ferryport. Just over a year ago Afloat previously reported of another detained cargoship Burhou I in Wicklow. Again this albeit smaller cargoship was employed in the timber trade.

The Paris MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) on Port State Control (PSC) was signed in January 1982 by fourteen European countries at a Ministerial Conference held in Paris, France. It entered into operation on 1 July 1982. The principles of the MoU also cover the following:
Safety of life at sea
Prevention of pollution by ships, and
Living and working conditions on board ships

The Paris MoU on PSC is an administrative agreement between 27 Maritime Authorities. The participating maritime Administrations of the Paris MoU covers the waters of the European coastal States and the North Atlantic basin from North America to Europe.

Since the detention was imposed last Saturday, Afloat had noted the 88m Crown Mary shift berths within Wicklow Port. This involved the vessel vacate the main commercial Packet Quay to the East Pier so to enable other cargoships to dock. So far two ships have called, Thea Marieke also Dutch flagged arrived from Sheerness, Kent. Last night the vessel docked in Dublin and this morning Scot Pioneer called to Wicklow having sailed overnight from Warrenpoint.

Only the day before the detention, Wicklow recieved the first call of the newly renamed car ferry Fraser Aisling Gabrielle. The 44-car capacity ferry made an overnight stop while en route from Waterford to Greenore from where next month a new Carlingford Lough service is to operate to Greencastle. 

Update May 24 2017: Detention of Dutch Flagged Cargoship In Wicklow Port Is Lifted