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Displaying items by tag: Cargo Increase

#Ports - Drogheda Port Company handled over 1.2 million tonnes of cargo in 2014, an increase of 17% on 2013.

The port outperformed the Irish port sector in terms of year on year throughput growth for the third year running. The latest national volumes indicate that the volume of port and shipping traffic through the Republic of Ireland are slowly recovering.

Against this backdrop the port's volume growth is particularly impressive. Throughput volumes for 2014 are the highest recorded since 2005 when a record throughput of 1.4 million tonnes was achieved. The total value of goods traded through the port in 2014 was over €425 million.

A number of capital investments in the port were made in 2014 by the private sector with the aquisition of new cranes. The port has invested in new warehousing to be completed in 2015 and will expand the throughput capacity of the port and its role in the region supporting export businesses.

Nationally and internationally the outlook for the sector in 2015 remains challenging but positive, notwithstanding the current uncertainty in the financial markets.

Commenting on the ports performance CEO Mr Paul Fleming said “The company is pleased to report that trade volumes are continuing to increase significantly year on year. It is quite clear from the volume growth that the economy is starting to grow again and construction industry imports are increasing. It is also extremely positive for a number of indigenous companies who are exporting increasing volumes of product to the UK and Europe”

He also noted “The company will continue to support the local tourist economy with plans to provide facilities for cruise calls and the now established Irish Maritime Festival again taking place in the heart of the working port in June. The company are also supporting the development of the Boyneside greenway from Mornington to Drogheda.”

Published in Ports & Shipping

Irish Sailing

The Irish Sailing Association, also known as Irish Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.

Founded in 1945 as the Irish Dinghy Racing Association, it became the Irish Yachting Association in 1964 and the Irish Sailing Association in 1992.

Irish Sailing is a Member National Authority (MNA) of World Sailing and a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The Association is governed by a volunteer board, elected by the member clubs. Policy Groups provide the link with members and stakeholders while advising the Board on specialist areas. There is a professional administration and performance staff, based at the headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Core functions include the regulation of sailing education, administering racing and selection of Irish sailors for international competition. It is the body recognised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for nominating Irish qualified sailors to be considered for selection to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games. Irish sailors have medalled twice at the Olympics – David Wilkins and Jamie Wikinson at the 1980 games, and Annalise Murphy at the 2016 games.

The Association, through its network of clubs and centres, offers curriculum-based training in the various sailing, windsurfing and powerboating disciplines. Irish Sailing qualifications are recognised by Irish and European Authorities. Most prominent of these are the Yachtmaster and the International Certificate of Competency.

It runs the annual All-Ireland Championships (formerly the Helmsman’s Championship) for senior and junior sailors.

The Association has been led by leading lights in the sailing and business communities. These include Douglas Heard, Clayton Love Junior, John Burke and Robert Dix.

Close to 100 sailors have represented Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership of Irish Sailing is either by direct application or through membership of an affiliated organisation. The annual membership fee ranges from €75 for families, down to €20 for Seniors and Juniors.