#CRUISE LINERS – In 2013 Cruise & Maritime Voyages are to charter Discovery (1971/20,216grt) for the UK cruising season to directly replace Ocean Countess, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The charter of the 700 passenger Discovery from Voyages of Discovery will see her operate cruises from Bristol Avonmouth, Liverpool, Hull and Harwich. As part of the charter arrangement her owners will also market the vessel during the season as Discovery Sailaway.

Discovery will undergo an extensive winter dry-docking and refurbishment programme prior to joining the CMV fleet in February 2013.

Her inaugural 'Irish' call will also mark the first cruise caller next year to Dublin Port scheduled on 8 April during a 5-night Springtime Gardens and Charms Cruise. Sharing the season will be CMV's slightly larger 800 passenger Marco Polo (1965/22,080grt).

#CRUISE LINERS – The final cruise caller this year to visit Dublin Port tomorrow is P&O Cruises Adonia, which today is at sea, having departed Cobh Cruise Terminal yesterday, as previously reported. Albeit the smallest in the seven-strong P&O Cruise fleet, she was given pride of place as she led the company's 175th anniversary Grand Event held during the summer, writes Jehan Ashmore.

On that momentous day (3rd July) in Southampton, the 30,000 gross registered tonnes Adonia gathered with her considerably larger fleet mates (69,000 – 115,000 grt) and carrying between them 1,800-3,100 passengers each. Unlike her fleet mates however she exclusively caters for adults only and at only 710 passengers, provides for a more intimate cruising experience.

As each cruise ship took it turns to depart after one after the other, they formed a line down Solent waters where the maritime spectacle was an impressive display in seafaring skills and logistics as thousands of passengers had embarked to include Arcadia whose next port of call was Dublin.

The historic day to mark the origins of the famous company formed in 1837 was the theme of a packed out lecture presented by P&O Cruises Managing Director, Carol Marlow during last months' London Ship Show. Marlow, who was a former CEO of Cunard Line, gave an insightful and entertaining talk of the intensive preparations surrounding P&O Cruises day of celebration.

Despite all the planning, one major event that the P&O team could not arrange was for the sun to shine!..instead a rather misty dull overcast day lingered over the Hampshire port. Having said, many hundreds lined the Solent to watch the sail past as each vessel departed on seven cruises. To view a video of the splendid liners and heritage of the famous company click the series of videos HERE.

As for the London Ship Show which was organised by the Ocean Liner Society, this was to be the last time held under its current format where maritime memorabilia stands and lecture programme where provided to all those interested in the world of liners and ferries operating from the UK.

#DRY-DOCKING –One of the largest vessels of the 40-plus Arklow Shipping Ltd fleet, Arklow Manor of 9,682grt/14,008dwt entered the dry dock in Dublin Port yesterday, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 139m dry-cargo vessel docked in Graving Dock No.2, though the facility located within Alexandra Basin actually consists of a single facility since the older and smaller adjacent Graving Dock No. 1 was in-filled several years ago to create more hard-standing space for freight vehicles.

Arklow Manor has four holds that can handle various cargoes, among them grain (total capacity of 18,110 m3). She is the lead ship of a five 'M' class vessels that was completed in 2009 from the Mokpo Shipbuilding Ind. Co in South Korea. Earlier this year one of her sisters, Arklow Marsh also underwent dry-docking at the same facility.

Both these vessels belong to a majority of ships (ranging from 3,000 tonnes) that are registered in Arklow, where the company headquarters manage the Irish flagged fleet. The remaining Dutch flagged vessels are managed by Arklow Shipping Nederland based in Rotterdam, which is also the port of registry for these ships.

#NAVAL VISIT- Having visited Cork last month, The Royal Navy's River class offshore patrol vessel OPV HMS Mersey (P283) is currently moored in Dublin Port, the ship belongs to a trio of sisterships purchased in a £39m deal, writes Jehan Ashmore.

HMS Mersey along with OPV's Severn and Tyne have for nearly the last decade served the Fishery Protection Squadron while on 'loan' to the Royal Navy. They had operated on a rolling five-year term lease from the shipbuilder-owners, Vosper Thornycroft, now part of BAE Systems.

The lease was due to be renewed in 2013 but rather than face having to pay more to rent the trio of vessels for £7m a year, the UK government signed the contract to buy the ships outright, keeping them in service with the Royal Navy for the next ten years.

The Portsmouth based OPV's known as the 'Cod' squadron are hard-working vessels, where each vessel conducts fishery patrol duties for 275 days annually. In addition they are assigned to perform tasks such as maritime security, counter terrorism, tackling smuggling, fire-fighting and SAR missions.

#DUBLIN PORT - Turnover at the Dublin Port Company has edged fractionally higher last year at €69.1m, with profits also increasing slightly.

Exports were up at the commercial semi-state port to 11.5 million tonnes but were offset by a 2pc decrease in imports to 16.6 million tonnes. Operating profit increased by €0.8m to €27.8m on 2010.

The State also took three times more cash in dividends than in 2010. In accounts filed with the companies office, the company said it paid out €16.5m, this compares with €5.5m the previous year.

For more the Irish Independent has a report HERE.

#TALL SHIP- The tallship Tenacious which arrived yesterday to Dublin Port, is to host an Open Day to the public this Sunday 21st October at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, from 10am - 12.30pm and 2pm - 4pm.

The 65m barque is operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, and alongside her fleetmate Lord Nelson, are the only such tallships in the world that cater for trainee sailors of all physical abilities.

Sail Training Ireland have announced that there are limited places still available for this October's Tall Ship voyages around the Irish Sea aboard the vessel. For further details contact the Irish Branch of the JST on 01 496 0735 and in general by visiting www.jst.org.uk

#CRUISELINERS- Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) Ocean Countess (1976/16,795grt) is scheduled to depart Dublin Port this evening, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Portuguese flagged vessel is to start on a 14-nights "Canaries & Madeira" cruise, with Irish passengers having the opportunity to embark directly in the capital.

She is to sail overnight to Liverpool, however her first Iberian port of call to Lisbon, is not until this Friday. Fares for the fortnight cost from £1,207 sterling and the cruise was organised through John Galligan Travel.

CMV also operates another veteran with the slightly older Marco Polo (1973/19,860grt) which too is a regular visitor to the port.

#DUBLIN PORT – Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, has appointed James Frater to the board of the Dublin Port Company.

The Irish Times reports that the Scot has held senior positions at ports in the UK, Hong Kong and Oman.Dublin Port is the country's largest such facility, handling roughly half of the State's trade.

#TALL SHIPS – It has been more than a fortnight ago since the spectacle of Dublin Tall Ships Race Festival's 'Parade of Sail' took place, and today the last participant, the Swedish Navy's Falken, made a southbound departure of Dublin Bay, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The last large tallship to depart the festival was the Italian Navy's Amerigo Vespucci, leaving the smaller Swedish gaff schooner to remain moored along the Liffey quays until her departure this afternoon. The B-class tallship built in 1947, is based out of Karlskrona and her crew of 13 officers and 29 trainees are currently heading for Porto.

It is ironic that on the same day of Falken's farewell, the Norwegian tallship Christian Radich is currently heading northbound in the Irish Sea as previously reported today. She is to visit the capital, where she called last year to publicise in advance this year's Tall Ships Race Festival.

#TALL SHIP -The Norwegian three-mast school ship Christian Radich is to visit Dublin Port tomorrow as part of a four-day stopover, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 1937 built tallship will make her main port of call to the capital during a four week sailing programme arranged by Norwegian Navy Officer Candidate School.

She called to Dublin Port last year, as previously reported on Afloat.ie for publicity purposes in advance of this year's successful festival in the capital which was host to the final port of call of the Tall Ships Races. Likewise of the tallships, she is to berth alongside the Liffey at Sir John Rogersons Quay.

For further details of the tallship whose homeport is Oslo and also the principle characteristics of the vessel click this LINK.