#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where dredging related works carried out last year in Arklow Harbour were completed this week.

This saw the capping of a pit spoil site in Arklow Bay by the trailing-suction dredger UKD Orca.

On the dredger's return to Merseyside she passed offshore of Wicklow Port where Leine was exporting recycled metals, while Ceg Cosmos had logged timber felled from the foothills of Ben Nevis, Scotland.

Returning to the Irish Sea where sea-links between Ireland and Wales are not exclusively the preserve of ferries. As the only other shipping route between these two Celtic nations is that of a container route connecting the capitals of Dublin and Cardiff. The service is operated by the 195 TEU capacity Coronel. 

Irish Ambassador to Germany, Michael Collins launched an Irish Maritime Development Office event in Hamburg.  Among the speakers was Rebecca Wardell, Business Development Manager (IMDO) who spoke about the Irish Tonnage Tax to the German shipping industry.

Lysblink Seaways which ran aground off the Scottish coast last month is undergoing repairs on the Clyde at a dry-dock in Greenock.

#GroundedShipDryDock - Lysblink Seaways, a cargship which ran aground off the Scottish west coast while on passage from Belfast to Norway just over a month ago is currently in a Greenock dry-dock, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Lysblink Seaways, a 120m-long vessel, found its hull lifted onto the rocky shore after getting into difficulty off Kilchoan in the early hours of 18 February. 

Lysblink Seaways was bound for Skogn, instead the vessel ran aground near Ardnamuchan Point in Scotland's West Highlands. The ship later re-floated in high tide a day after her hull landed on the rocky shore. It was further reported that she was later moved to a safe haven in the Sound of Mull to avoid poor weather towards the end of last month.

Earlier this month, the vessel which had paper products onboard was taken under tow up the Clyde. She  entered the Garvel Clyde's James Watt Dock at Inchgreen to undergo repairs. 

The cargoship was purpose built for Lys-Line as a side-loading vessel on Scandinavia-UK market to cater in transporting paper and other forest products, containers and bulk cargo freight. She was later renamed Lysblink Seaways to serve DFDS Seaways subsidiary under the banner DFDS Lys Line. 

Some readers may recall that during the Lys Line era, this compamy had the contract to supply newsprint for some mainstream Irish daily titles. This saw paper reel products unloaded in Drogheda Port.

#WickowPorts - UKD Orca (2000/3,087grt) yesterday departed Arklow Bay having completed capping a spoil pit site off the County Wicklow harbour which was dredged last year, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, UKD Orca was tasked in capping a designated spoil site north-east of Arklow port's East Pier. This had involved dredging contaminated spoil material from within the harbour channel and basin by the Jenny T early last summer. 

The works at Arklow port are to improve access for all users and encourage notably commercial callers to the port where the River Avoca flows through into the Irish Sea.

UKD Orca is a trailing suction dredger which was returning to Merseyside. When underway some eight nautical miles due east off Wicklow Head, was nearby at anchorage the Ceg Cosmos (1983/1,139grt). The general cargoship loaded with logged timber had sailed from Corpach, under the shadow of Ben Nevis, Scotland.

The majority of the felled tree logs where stowed in the hold though bundles of logs could be seen on the ships hatch cover.

Such trade in timber products was very much a frequent import to Wicklow Port during the heady days of the construction boom, and there appears to be somewhat a comeback to supplying such product.

This trade over the years has also seen ships from Scandinavia discharge timber packaged products through the local agency of Conway Shipping.

Last night, Ceg Cosmos which had weighed anchor only less than half a nautical mile off Black Castle, a ruin which stands on the promontory close to East Pier of the port of Wicklow. On entering the port, the 64m long vessel nudged past the short-sea general cargoship, Leine (2005/2,164grt). The 89m long vessel was been loaded with an export cargo of recycled metal while alongside North Quay.

Leine, flagged in Antigua Barbuda had docked having sailed from Cork. As for the Gibraltar flagged Ceg Cosmos she was berthed further upriver at Packet Quay.

Directly facing on the opposite South Quay on this narrower stretch within the port where the River Leitrim flows out to sea, is where a miscellaneous local inshore fishing fleet where moored abreast.

Nestled within these fishing boats was Island Shipping's wind-farm crew transfer and support catamaran Island Panther. The Southampton registered high-speed 17m craft is part of the Wicklow based company.

#TonnageTaxTalk - Irish Ambassador to Germany, Michael Collins opened the Irish Maritime Development Office's latest event in Hamburg held last month.

Speakers included Rebecca Wardell, Business Development Manager (IMDO), Hugh Kennedy Kennedy's Law, Paul Packard Bank of Ireland and Dermot Lambe BMCI.

The Ambassador who welcomed guests to the event on 26 February, stressed the importance and scale of the bilateral relationship between Ireland and Germany. He also spoke about the large number of German companies established in Ireland employing over 10,000 people, names such as Lufthansa, Allianz, Liebherr, SAP and Deutsche Bank.

The Ambassador went on to say "When asked why they locate in Ireland, international companies mention many factors including Ireland's skilled workforce and our pro-business tax system – this includes the corporation tax rate, R&D tax credits, and an extensive tax treaty network."

Ms Wardell, who joined the Irish Maritime Development Office last year, spoke about the benefits of doing business in Ireland, with particular emphasis on Ireland's Tonnage Tax regime. The Irish Tonnage Tax regime makes Ireland an ideal location for ship-owners, ship operators or ship managers to base aspects of their operations.

She said, "Ireland has a tremendous track record for success in foreign direct investment and there is huge potential to grow the Maritime Sector".

"According to research by independent experts, PwC, Ireland has one of the best Tonnage Tax systems internationally. The companies who have set up to date, speak highly of their experience and continue to grow in terms of employment and volume of business. "

The IMDO is the Irish Government agency tasked with the growth and development of the Maritime sector in Ireland.

#IrelandWalesLinks – Ireland-Wales sea links between these two Celtic nations, who play each other today in the RBS Six Nations encounter, are not exclusively all ferry-based which included this week's debut of Superfast X, as Jehan Ashmore explains.

Asides the Cardiff registered Stena Superfast X that was launched on the Dublin-Holyhead route also served by rivals Irish Ferries, both operators run routes from Rosslare to south Wales ports, Stena to Fishguard and Irish Ferries to Pembroke. This leaves three routes to transport passengers and carry freight, following the demise of the Stena HSS from Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead that closed last September.

So where does this none-ferry yet commercial route fit into this Ireland-Wales equation? The answer is a container route which is the only such scheduled service connecting the Celtic capitals. That unique service is provided by Cardiff Container Lines whose Coronel (see photo above) calls to Dublin Port yet runs to a triangular route network as the vessel also docks in the Co. Down port of Warrenpoint on Carlingford Lough.

It is apt that on today's rugby game where 'Ireland's Call' will be song in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, that down in the capital's port is where Coronel is berthed (at time of writing) having arrived yesterday from Warrenpoint. She is due to arrive in Dublin Port tomorrow morning. 

The 195 (TEU) container capacity vessel's Lo/Lo operations are carried out at the Port of Cardiff's container terminal on Queen Alexandra Dock. Whereas in Dublin Port, Coronel built in 1978 is catered for within either Alexandra Basin east or west (as seen departing from) in this file photo when bound for Cardiff.

Cardiff port is accessed via the lockgate into Cardiff Bay and the Severn Estuary and is where the 1978 built Coronel acts as a 'feeder' ship for CCL. As the operator in association with Borchard Lines provides a weekly Cardiff-Mediterranean Sea 'liner' service on their West Coast UK service.

The Borchard Lines service calls to the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Greece and extends further east in the Mediterranean to ports in Turkey, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt.

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

Irish Maritime News: €50m port plan for super-tankers - A €50m plan for Foynes port will enable a new era of super-tankers to berth there and turn the Shannon Estuary into a world shipping hub.

Work will commence next month on the first €12.5m phase of the plan, the infilling of nearly 3.5 acres adjacent to the port's East Jetty. Funding will come from the Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) reserves with some external funding. Private-sector developments at the port costing €26m have already been announced for the port.

ICG on the rise: Profit for the year jumped to €56m from €26.8m in 2013 as revenue grew 10% to €290.1m. The company was boosted by the addition of the 26,375-gt Epsilon and lower fuel costs. It raised the company's status to "buy" and it explained ICG could be free from its current €61.3m net debt in less than three years.

EU Study LNG: European Commissions' study on LNG as a shipping fuel shows industry's support -The European Commission presented the preliminary results of a study on the perception of the risks and opportunities of LNG as a shipping fuel. The results show that stakeholders recognise the environmental advantages of LNG as a shipping fuel, but are still uncertain whether they offer a clear business case.

EU Shipping Importance: Updated study highlights economic importance of EU shipping - ECSA presented the results of a recent update of the Oxford Economics study on the economic value of the EU shipping industry, which highlights the industry's important contribution to the EU economy based on new and more reliable data.

For more on each of the above and other stories click IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 10).

In addition to dedicated coverage on Afloat.ie's Ports & Shipping News.

#ArklowHarbour - Arklow Harbour is set to have the final stage of dredging related works to be completed within the next fortnight, following last year's dredging as previously reported on Afloat.ie, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Work is to involve the capping of a pit spoil site offshore by UKD Orca, a trailing suction hopper dredger which arrived this afternoon from Liverpool's (Bootle) docks.

Afloat.ie has made inquiries to confirm that the work does not involve further dredging but is to cap contaminated spoil dredged from within the harbour early last summer.

It is understood the project then saw approximately 60,000 tonnes of spoil dredged from the port's channel, turning basin, and dock basin from where Asgard II, the brigantine was launched from the Tyrrell's yard in 1981.

A license to carry out the dredging last year was the first time such duties were performed in 15 years at the Co. Wicklow harbour. The works were carried out by Clare-based L&M Keating Ltd.

The contract costing €2.2m followed Wicklow County Council been granted a Foreshore Licence from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

As part of the conditions of the dredging contract, a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was issued to dump disposed spoil from the harbour at this designated pit out at sea.

On that occasion, the Sligo-registered Jenny T was tasked in dredging the spoil material to the pit site 1.5km north-east of the harbour's east pier.

The current operation by UKD Orca is expected to take 8-12 days and the 2000 built vessel is the most modern from a fleet of five vessels operated by UK Dredging, with a head office based in Cardiff.

The Dutch built 3,087 tonnes vessel is capable of dredging in confined spaces and is also designed for maintenance dredging.

#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene.

Stricken cargoship Lysblink Seaways was to be moved to a safe haven after the 120m-long vessel originally ran aground near Ardnamuchan Point in Scotland's West Highlands while en route from Belfast to Norway.

Munkebo Maersk, a 195,000 ton Triple E-class became the largest ship ever to sail up the River Thames where the containership with a whopping 18,500 TEU capacity docked at DP World London Gateway, the UK's newest deep-sea port hub.

Irish ports and shipping volumes rose by 7% in the fourth quarter of 2014 when compared to the corresponding period of 2013. The figures from iShip Index were published by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).

The Irish Continental Group (ICG) appoints Mr. David Ledwidge to position of Chief Financial Officer. He joined ICG in 2006 following a career with accountants Deloitte.

Further news from ICG saw release of full-year Statement of results for 2014.

Arklow Breeze, is the final of six 8660dwt newbuilds for Arklow Shipping's Dutch division. The newbuild to be launched later this month at the Ferus Smit B.V. yard, features a cargo hull designed with 'green' credentials.

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

Aoife: Ireland is proceeding with the planned donation of the LE Aoife to Malta to assist in humanitarian work despite reports that members of the armed forces of Malta described the recently decommissioned Irish ship as outdated. 

Port of Cork: Umbrella group backs Port of Cork's plan for €100m terminal upgrade - An umbrella organisation which represents more than 1,800 community groups has put its weight behind the Port of Cork's plans for a €100m upgrade of its deepwater terminal at Ringaskiddy.

Global Maritime News: US ports back in action - The Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union announced a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract covering workers at all 29 West Coast ports. The deal was reached with assistance from US Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Deputy Director Scot Beckenbaugh. The parties will not be releasing details of the agreement at this time. The agreement is subject to ratification by both parties.

Containers: Maersk posts record profit -The company said net earnings were $5.19bn, from $3.77bn in the previous 12 months. Of this, $2.85bn came from discontinued operations, mainly the sale of its Danish supermarket business, compared to $394m the year before. Revenue edged up to $47.56bn versus $47.38bn in 2013.

For more on each of the above and other stories click IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 9).

In addition to dedicated coverage on Afloat.ie's Ports & Shipping News. Including a report of the largest ever ship (Munkebo Maersk) to call to the Thames at the new London Gateway.

#ICGresults2014 – Irish Continental Group released today a full year Statement of results for the year ended 31 December 2014.

As outlined below are the Groups' key financial and performance highlights for last year:

• Revenue up 9.6%, adjusted EPS up 12.3%
• Dividend increased by 5%, Net Debt down 34.4%
• RORO freight volumes +20.8%, car carryings +8.8%

Commenting on the results Chairman John B McGuckian said, "2014 was another successful year for the group with growth in revenue of almost 10% to €290.1 million and earnings before non-trading items, interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of €50.5 million, up 2.6%, having absorbed the costs of the newly introduced vessel, 'Epsilon'.

"The strong momentum, evident in Q4 of 2014 has continued into early 2015 giving us confidence that we can look forward in 2015, in the absence of unforeseen developments and assuming continued lower oil prices, to strong growth in revenue and earnings."

2014 proved to be another successful year for the Group, with a positive financial and operational performance, and a strengthening of the Group's strategic positioning as the leading maritime transport provider in the Republic of Ireland.

Revenue for the year grew 9.6% to €290.1 million with growth of 14.0% in the Ferries Division and 2.6% in the Container & Terminal Division. Operating costs (excluding depreciation) were 11.2% higher at €239.6 million as we absorbed the full year incremental cost of the additional vessel, 'Epsilon', introduced in late 2013.

EBITDA increased by 2.6%, to €50.5 million. Operating profit (before non-trading items) was up 9.0% at €32.7 million. The net finance charge was €4.7 million (2013: €6.3 million). The taxation charge was €0.7 million compared with €0.4 million in 2013. There was a non-trading item of €28.7 million resulting from the curtailment gain recognised as a result of the pension deficit funding agreement concluded during the year.

Basic EPS (including non-trading items) was 30.4 cent (2013: 14.6 cent), while adjusted EPS (excluding non-trading items and the net interest cost on defined benefit pension schemes) was 12.3% higher at 15.5 cent.

For further breakdown analysis of the various divisions of ICG, click HERE.