Displaying items by tag: New DSG group tug

21st December 2016

New Tug to Cork Harbour Welcomes Back Beckett’s Naval Haulbowline Homecoming

A new tug to Cork Harbour, Stevns Breaker with water display to welcome return of LE Samuel Beckett to Haulbowline Naval Base after a harrowing three-month humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean.

#NewTug – A new tug to Cork Harbour was notably seen with a water display to welcome the arrival of LE Samuel Beckett following the crew’s gallant yet harrowing experience in the rescue of migrant refugees in the Mediterranean, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Afloat has identified the tug as Stevns Breaker which has been acquired by Doyle Shipping Group (DSG). The newcomer had been noted in advance of the OPV90 class patrol vessel's Haulbowline homecoming last Friday, having berthed alongside Cork Dockyard also part of the DSG group.

The 70 bollard pull (bp) tug now under the Irish flag joined DSG's Rushbrooke and Cobh based fleet of tugs, worklines-boats in addition their nearby Cross River Ferries operation.

Launched in 2010 as Stevns Breaker the tug would later became part of the Danish tug giant Svitzer which renamed the tug on two occasions as Svitzer Nabi followed by Svitzer Hutton.

The almost 32m long green hulled tug reverted back to her original name to join Irish fleetmate Breedbank of 30 (bp) which sports a red hull. Together the pair assisted the berthing of LE Samuel Beckett at the Naval Base.

Prior to the arrival of the 'Operations Pontus' serving patrol ship, Naval Service flagship LE Eithne vacated the outer Oil Berth to free up this quay for the OPV90 vessel. This led to the LE Eithne shift berths into the confines of the naval basin.

Also berthed in the basin is the laid-up 'Aisling'. Since decomissioning the ship is no longer named with the official LÉ prefix which stands for Long Éireannach/Irish Ship.

A decision has yet to be announced by the Department of Defence as to the future role of the final ‘Emer’ class OPV. There have been calls to have Aisling as a floating museum in Galway Port, given the veteran vessel is twinned with the mid-west single dock basin harbour.

Published in Cork Harbour

Tagged under

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.