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Displaying items by tag: Port of Barrow

At the Irish Sea Port of Barrow the UK Shipping Minister was welcomed at the Cumbrian port for an informative tour to showcase its operations and facilities.

The visit hosted by Associated British Ports (ABP) Divisional Port Manager - North West, Carl Bevan, saw Shipping Minister Nusrat Ghani MP was given a comprehensive tour of the port. This focused on the port’s strategic importance and relationships with key customers including BAE Systems, International Nuclear Services and Orsted.

An ambitious Master Plan was also discussed with particular emphasis on potential future energy projects and the need to improve local road and rail infrastructure

The Maritime Minister said: “Ports are crucial to the success of the UK’s economy, handling more than 95 per cent of UK trade. Barrow Port is a key example, supporting hundreds of jobs across the UK and significantly contributing to the country’s economy.

“The Government’s Maritime 2050 strategy sets out a promising future for this sector and Barrow Port’s Master Plan is an exciting demonstration of expansion and taking advantage of opportunities to create new jobs.”

The Port of Barrow plays a vital role at the heart of the Cumbrian economy, serving the growing renewable energy sector and local advanced manufacturing. By facilitating trade and supporting industry the port supports 1,700 jobs across the UK, including 800 in the town of Barrow, and contributes £107 million to the UK economy. ABP’s Master Plan for the port anticipates a bright future for the port which could see substantial growth in the next decade.

The port's CEO added: 'We were delighted to welcome the Shipping Minister to our port and discuss the vital trade links it provides to the Cumbrian region.

“Showcasing the breadth of ABP colleagues' involvement in initiatives to support the local community such as educational school visits, beach cleans and Barrow's 150th anniversary in 2017, was also important.”

Published in Ports & Shipping

#Ports&Shipping - The Irish Sea port of Barrow-in-Furness, England is to host public tours of the port next week on Tuesday, 2 October.

The tours running between 1pm-4pm will take around 2.5hrs and organised by Associated British Ports (ABP), the port owners. During the tours there will be an update on ABP's 25 year master plan for the port in Cumbria which Afloat reported on the port's 150th anniversary last year.

Commenting to Cumbrian Business Growth Hub, Carl Bevan, Divisional Port Manager said: “ABP are delighted to invite you to the Port of Barrow. It is hugely important to the county, region and country and has a rich 150 year history". 

“The visit will showcase the Port and take you through our master plan which will see the Port continue to thrive for the next 150 years supporting vital works in the defence and energy sectors. The Port has an annual gross value add of £107m, supporting over 10,000 jobs in Cumbria alone”.

If interested in joining the tour, ABP request that you email Derek Armstring at [email protected] noting places are limited for this event (15 maximum).

Published in Ports & Shipping

#Ports&Shipping - An Irish Sea port, Barrow in north-west England has won the prestigious UK Port of the Year Award at this year’s 10th annual UK Ports Conference held in the heart of London.

According to Associated British Ports (ABP) which operates the Port of Barrow in Cumbria was presented (among categories) the Port of the Year Award. The award was open to all ports and terminals across the UK that could demonstrate both optimum operational performance and outstanding customer service in the last 12 months. Two other ABP ports – Barrow and Southampton made the final shortlist, with the Port of Barrow ultimately scooping first prize.

The panel of judges consisted of esteemed industry experts, specially selected for their wide-ranging and in-depth experience and knowledge of the sector, including Tim Morris, Chief Executive of the UK Major Ports Group, Craig Huntbatch, Business Line Director at Royal HaskoningDHV and Carly Fields, Editor of Port Strategy magazine.

The Port of Barrow was recognised largely due to its successful community engagement campaign, which was organised to celebrate the Ports 150th anniversary in 2017 and saw awareness about its economic contribution and bright future increase among the local community.

Together with its sister Ports of Garston, Silloth and Fleetwood, ABP’s port of Barrow supports more than 8,100 jobs in the North West and contributes more than £550 million to the UK economy every year. 

Published in Ports & Shipping

The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is an annual offshore yacht racing event with an increasingly international exposure attracting super maxi yachts and entries from around tne world. It is hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, starting in Sydney, New South Wales on Boxing Day and finishing in Hobart, Tasmania. The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles (1,170 km).

The 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts in Sydney Harbour at 1pm (AEDT) on Monday 26 December.

This is the 77th edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart. The inaugural race was conducted in 1945 and has run every year since, apart from 2020, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

88 boats started the 2021 Rolex Sydney Hobart, with 50 finishing.

The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - FAQs

The number of Sydney Hobart Yacht Races held by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia since 1945 is 75

6,257 completed the Sydney Hobart Yacht race, 1036 retired or were disqualified)

About 60,061 sailors have competed in the Sydney Hobart Race between 1945 and 2019

Largest fleets: 371 starters in the 50th race in 1994 (309 finished); 154 starters in 1987 (146 finished); 179 starters in 1985 (145 finished); 151 starters in 1984 (46 finished); 173 started in 1983 (128 finished); 159 started in 1981 (143 finished); 147 started in 1979 (142 finished); 157 started in 2019 (154 finished)

116 in 2004 (59 finished); 117 in 2014 (103 finished); 157 in 2019 (154 finished)

Nine starters in the inaugural Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in 1945

In 2015 and 2017 there were 27, including the 12 Clipper yachts (11 in 2017). In the record entry of 371 yachts in the 50th in 1994, there were 24 internationals

Rani, Captain John Illingworth RN (UK). Design: Barber 35’ cutter. Line and handicap winner

157 starters, 154 finishers (3 retirements)

IRC Overall: Ichi Ban, a TP52 owned by Matt Allen, NSW. Last year’s line honours winner: Comanche, Verdier Yacht Design and VPLP (FRA) owned by Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant, in 1 day 18 hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds. Just 1hour 58min 32secs separated the five super maxis at the finish 

1 day 9 hours 15 minutes and 24 seconds, set in 2017 by LDV Comanche after Wild Oats XI was penalised one hour in port/starboard incident for a finish time of 1d 9h 48m 50s

The oldest ever sailor was Syd Fischer (88 years, 2015).

As a baby, Raud O'Brien did his first of some six Sydney Hobarts on his parent's Wraith of Odin (sic). As a veteran at three, Raud broke his arm when he fell off the companionway steps whilst feeding biscuits to the crew on watch Sophie Tasker sailed the 1978 race as a four-year-old on her father’s yacht Siska, which was not an official starter due to not meeting requirements of the CYCA. Sophie raced to Hobart in 1979, 1982 and 1983.

Quite a number of teenage boys and girls have sailed with their fathers and mothers, including Tasmanian Ken Gourlay’s 14-year-old son who sailed on Kismet in 1957. A 12-year-old boy, Travis Foley, sailed in the fatal 1998 race aboard Aspect Computing, which won PHS overall.

In 1978, the Brooker family sailed aboard their yacht Touchwood – parents Doug and Val and their children, Peter (13), Jacqueline (10), Kathryne (8) and Donald (6). Since 1999, the CYCA has set an age limit of 18 for competitors

Jane (‘Jenny’) Tate, from Hobart, sailed with her husband Horrie aboard Active in the 1946 Race, as did Dagmar O’Brien with her husband, Dr Brian (‘Mick’) O’Brien aboard Connella. Unfortunately, Connella was forced to retire in Bass Strait, but Active made it to the finish. The Jane Tate Memorial Trophy is presented each year to the first female skipper to finish the race

In 2019, Bill Barry-Cotter brought Katwinchar, built in 1904, back to the start line. She had competed with a previous owner in 1951. It is believed she is the oldest yacht to compete. According to CYCA life member and historian Alan Campbell, more than 31 yachts built before 1938 have competed in the race, including line honours winners Morna/Kurrewa IV (the same boat, renamed) and Astor, which were built in the 1920s.

Bruce Farr/Farr Yacht Design (NZL/USA) – can claim 20 overall wins from 1976 (with Piccolo) up to and including 2015 (with Balance)

Screw Loose (1979) – LOA 9.2m (30ft); Zeus II (1981) LOA 9.2m

TKlinger, NSW (1978) – LOA 8.23m (27ft)

Wild Oats XI (2012) – LOA 30.48m (100ft). Wild Oats XI had previously held the record in 2005 when she was 30m (98ft)

©Afloat 2020