Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: ABR Project

Dublin Port welcomed the arrival of new port infrastructure in the form of a linkspan which was transported by a supporting barge structure from the Netherlands last month, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The new linkspan (No. 7) will form part of the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project (ABR) at Dublin Port. The ABR where works are ongoing, represents the first major phase in the capital development project of the port's Masterplan 2040.

DPC awarded a contract for its constuction to Ravestein BV. The inland yard based in Deest is from where the linkspan was towed intially upriver (Waal) to the Port of Rotterdam.

In the second stage of the linkspan's delivery voyage, this involved the tug Noordstroom take over towing operations at Europe's largest port. Before the project cargo reached the open sea, the linkspan passed the Hoek van Holland (see photo above). The ferryport which is located close to the North Sea is also on the banks of the New Waterway (Nieuwe Waterweg) which connects to the Port of Rotterdam.

Also seen above at the Hoek van Holland is the Stena Britannica (at 64, 039grt, is ranked the world's 4th largest ferry). The giant ferry was berthed at a linkspan of the Dutch port which connects Harwich in UK as Afloat previously reported in the run up to Brexit.

A linkspan is a structure used to facilitate ro-ro traffic movement from a berthed vessel (via the bow or stern door ramps) to embark or dismembark vehicles ashore.

In the case of linkspan No. 7, Dublin Port plan to position the structure at the new Cross Berth Quay (Berth 26) as a bankseat within the ABR. Vessels that will use this new linkspan (ro-ro jetty which was shortlisted for an engineering award) will berth on to the south side of this new facility located in the centre of the basin.

Published in Dublin Port

#Concentrates – It is pleasing to concentrate on an Irish based ship management company that otherwise is not widely documented in mainstream media, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Cathma, a multipurpose dry-cargo carrier with an Ice Class (1A) certification was tracked by Afloat to the vessel's berth in Dublin Port this morning. The 100m long cargoship is managed by Corrib Shipping Group. The Dundrum based group also comprises a number of shipowning companies.

The 6000dwt Cathma as previously reported on Afloat’s ‘Cargoship’ focus discharged fertiliser in Foynes last year, belongs to the Group that was established in 1995. As part of the management team role, they are tasked to employ professional officers and crew to man its vessels.

Cathma is flagged in Curacao, a Dutch island in the Caribbean, is docked in Alexandra Basin along the north side of the 230m Bulk loading jetty. The facility completed in 1967 is served by rail-wagons laden with lead and ore concentrates from Bolidan Tara Mines in Co. Meath.

The loading facility in Dublin Port, which this year is 50 years old, is to be demolished as part of the port’s Masterplan. This involves phase one of a major €230m Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) project where quayside reconfiguration is underway to accommodate much larger deep drafted ships.

A new bulk-mineral loading facility will be reinstated within the basin.

Corrib Shipping also sail their ships as part of Royal Wagenborg (a Dutch operator of more than 170 ships) that acts as chartering agents for the Irish based group.

In January, Afloat investigated into the details of the 118m Viechtdiep, a 7,200dwt cargoship that was acquired by Corrib to become the group's fifth ship. The vessel was drydocked to emerge as the Dutch flagged Ziltborg operating for Wagenborg.

Published in Dublin Port

#worldlargest - The world's largest ro-ro ferry described as a 'game-changer' is to make a maiden call this week to Dublin Port from Zeebrugge and is to be followed with an introduction on the Rotterdam route, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Landlocked based shipping operator, CLdN ro ro S.A. with headquarters in Luxembourg, is to launch the giant 234m ro-ro freight ferry M.V. Celine with a capacity of 8,000 lane meters on the Ireland-Belgium route. The longer Dutch link will also be served by the giant ship. Beforehand of CLnd/Cobelfret's Dublin operations they had served out of Rosslare Europort until transferring to the capital in 2010.

Such sized ships will play an even bigger role given the reality of a 'post-Brexit' EU when the need to have direct sea-transport links with added capacity between Ireland and continental mainland Europe will become increasingly apparent.

Celine is to dock at Dublin's Ocean Pier in Alexandra Basin East which adjoins the larger basin of the same name from where the single largest redevelopment project in the past 200 years of the port is underway. Also related to the ABR project is the Capital Dredging Programme that began at the weekend with works in the basin along with those in the bay due to be completed by March 2018.

Newcomer Celine draws a maximum depth of 8.1m and this demonstates the requirement for Dublin Port to maintain that the channel approaches meet the demands from this ship and ever increasing larger and deeper draft ships to safely navigate and be accommodated within the port.

One of CLdN Ro Ro ships serving with sister company Cobelfret Ferries on the route linking Zeebrugge, Mazarine, namesake of her class which having reported for Ships Monthly in 2010 (Feb issue) made today a lunchtime arrival to Dublin Port. This 196m ro-ro can carry just 180 trailers, whereas the newbuild will take considerably more with 580. Such trailer traffic will involve a purpose-built ramp linkspan currently under construction in Alexandra Basin in which Afloat will have further to report. 

Asides standard unaccompanied trailers, Celine's capacity caters for tank containers, project cargo, new cars and a capacity for 12 driver accompanied units. The leadship newbuild completed by Hyundai Mipo in Ulsan,South Korea represents a fleet expansion plan for CLdN, with a sistership due in the coming months.

Currently the largest ro-ro vessel using Dublin Port is Stena Line's passenger/vehicle ferry, Stena Adventurer which has a length just shy of 211m. By coincidence the Holyhead serving ship introduced in 2003, was also built by the same Asian shipyard.

As previously reported on Afloat back in early 2016, CLdN also operates an extensive northern European network, had then confirmed two more vessels ordered but through Croatian shipbuilder Uljanik along with an option for a further four ships but with a smaller 5,400 lane metre capacity. 

Published in Dublin Port

#dredging- Dredging works in Dublin Port that began yesterday are to continue to March 2018 which will involve moving loaded material out to sea and dumped in Dublin Bay, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The works are part of the Capital Dredging Programme 2017 that arise from the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) Project which is phase one of the Port's Masterplan 2012-2040 (see first review). The dredging will permit much larger and deeper draft cargoships and cruiseships to enter the port.

Last month concerns were raised by campaigners about the safety of the Dublin Bay porpoise as Dublin Port also undertook routine maintenace dredging that involved dumping material on a site off the Baily Lighthouse, Howth Peninsula. At the time the Journal.ie wrote that the Protect Dublin Bay group said that the area should be protected from waste.

Afloat noted the Belgium flagged Minerva, a trailer suction dredger began carrying out operations yesterday in Dublin Bay, a day later than envisaged.

The 2016 built green hulled dredger operated by New Waves Solutions, a subsidiary of the Dredging, Environmental & Marine Engineering DEME, was working consistently off the Dublin Bay bouy, located in the centre of the bay.

Dublin Port Company was granted a license Foreshore Consent by the Department of Housing, Planning Community & Local Government and a Dumping at Sea Permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).. The dumping of dredged material for this particular programme is described in an area as Outer Dublin Bay which is subject to conditions.

Under the terms of the EPA's Dumping at Sea Under permit, a maximum of 8,760,000 tonnes of dredged material may be loaded and dumped at sea up until and including 31 March 2021.

For much much information on the dredging works including documents on the Dumping at Sea permit (S0024-01) and A Notice to Mariners click here.

In addition if you have any concerns Dublin Port Company have issued contact details with respect to the Capital Dredging Programme. They can be contacted during normal business hours by asking for Charlie Murphy or Eamon McElroy by calling 01 887 6000 ; or by post to Dublin Port  Centre, Alexandra Road, Dublin 1; or email: [email protected]

Alternatively concerns can be raised by contacting the Office of Environmental Enforcement Agency, EPA see website and for contact information from this link.
 

 

Published in Dredging

#ABRnotices - As part Dublin Port's Alexandra Basin Regeneration ABR Project, the existing Lead in Jetty located outside Graving Dock Number 2 that closed in February, is to be demolished.

Afloat adds tallship Jeanie Johnston made history as the last dry-docked vessel that also used the jetty following the closure of the unique facility in the capital.

It is expected that the works of Notice to Mariners No. 19 at the Jetty will take place from the 20th March 2017 to the 31st October 2017. (Circa 7 months’ duration)

The works consist generally of the demolition of an existing Lead in Jetty located at the entrance to the existing Graving Dock No. 2. It is required to demolish the existing lead in Jetty in order to provide access to future Berths No. 27 and No. 28 to the North West corner of the Alexandra Basin.

The Lead in Jetty is 120m long x 10m wide x 10m deep and is constructed of concrete caissons filled with gravel.

The following Vessels will be utilized for the demolition works to the Lead in Jetty:
1. 14 CD Spud Leg Dredger “Aoibheann”.
2. 25 TBP Single Screw Tugboat “M.T. Gargal”
3. Work Pontoon “Sandfisher”.

All craft will monitor Channel 12 continuously and show the required lights and shapes. All vessels should pass at slow speed and make due allowance for this operation.

VTS will keep all vessels updated and advised of any relevant information.

Further information on the ABR project can be found by clicking on the following link: http://dublinportabr.ie/

All Notice to Mariners among them further related ABR project developments are outlined below with links to open and download in PDF format.

No. 20 of 2017 New Quay Wall Works - Alexandra Quay West/Ocean Pier, Berths 31/32 click here 

No. 21 of 2017 New Quay Wall Works - Alexandra Quay West, Berth 28 click here

For other Notice to Mariners they can be consulted here

Published in Dublin Port

Irish Olympic Sailing Team

Ireland has a proud representation in sailing at the Olympics dating back to 1948. Today there is a modern governing structure surrounding the selection of sailors the Olympic Regatta

Irish Olympic Sailing FAQs

Ireland’s representation in sailing at the Olympics dates back to 1948, when a team consisting of Jimmy Mooney (Firefly), Alf Delany and Hugh Allen (Swallow) competed in that year’s Summer Games in London (sailing off Torquay). Except for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Ireland has sent at least one sailor to every Summer Games since then.

  • 1948 – London (Torquay) — Firefly: Jimmy Mooney; Swallow: Alf Delany, Hugh Allen
  • 1952 – Helsinki — Finn: Alf Delany * 1956 – Melbourne — Finn: J Somers Payne
  • 1960 – Rome — Flying Dutchman: Johnny Hooper, Peter Gray; Dragon: Jimmy Mooney, David Ryder, Robin Benson; Finn: J Somers Payne
  • 1964 – Tokyo — Dragon: Eddie Kelliher, Harry Maguire, Rob Dalton; Finn: Johnny Hooper 
  • 1972 – Munich (Kiel) — Tempest: David Wilkins, Sean Whitaker; Dragon: Robin Hennessy, Harry Byrne, Owen Delany; Finn: Kevin McLaverty; Flying Dutchman: Harold Cudmore, Richard O’Shea
  • 1976 – Montreal (Kingston) — 470: Robert Dix, Peter Dix; Flying Dutchman: Barry O’Neill, Jamie Wilkinson; Tempest: David Wilkins, Derek Jago
  • 1980 – Moscow (Tallinn) — Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Jamie Wilkinson (Silver medalists) * 1984 – Los Angeles — Finn: Bill O’Hara
  • 1988 – Seoul (Pusan) — Finn: Bill O’Hara; Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy; 470 (Women): Cathy MacAleavy, Aisling Byrne
  • 1992 – Barcelona — Europe: Denise Lyttle; Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy; Star: Mark Mansfield, Tom McWilliam
  • 1996 – Atlanta (Savannah) — Laser: Mark Lyttle; Europe: Aisling Bowman (Byrne); Finn: John Driscoll; Star: Mark Mansfield, David Burrows; 470 (Women): Denise Lyttle, Louise Cole; Soling: Marshall King, Dan O’Grady, Garrett Connolly
  • 2000 – Sydney — Europe: Maria Coleman; Finn: David Burrows; Star: Mark Mansfield, David O'Brien
  • 2004 – Athens — Europe: Maria Coleman; Finn: David Burrows; Star: Mark Mansfield, Killian Collins; 49er: Tom Fitzpatrick, Fraser Brown; 470: Gerald Owens, Ross Killian; Laser: Rory Fitzpatrick
  • 2008 – Beijing (Qingdao) — Star: Peter O’Leary, Stephen Milne; Finn: Tim Goodbody; Laser Radial: Ciara Peelo; 470: Gerald Owens, Phil Lawton
  • 2012 – London (Weymouth) — Star: Peter O’Leary, David Burrows; 49er: Ryan Seaton, Matt McGovern; Laser Radial: Annalise Murphy; Laser: James Espey; 470: Gerald Owens, Scott Flanigan
  • 2016 – Rio — Laser Radial (Women): Annalise Murphy (Silver medalist); 49er: Ryan Seaton, Matt McGovern; 49erFX: Andrea Brewster, Saskia Tidey; Laser: Finn Lynch; Paralympic Sonar: John Twomey, Ian Costello & Austin O’Carroll

Ireland has won two Olympics medals in sailing events, both silver: David Wilkins, Jamie Wilkinson in the Flying Dutchman at Moscow 1980, and Annalise Murphy in the Laser Radial at Rio 2016.

The current team, as of December 2020, consists of Laser sailors Finn Lynch, Liam Glynn and Ewan McMahon, 49er pairs Ryan Seaton and Seafra Guilfoyle, and Sean Waddilove and Robert Dickson, as well as Laser Radial sailors Annalise Murphy and Aoife Hopkins.

Irish Sailing is the National Governing Body for sailing in Ireland.

Irish Sailing’s Performance division is responsible for selecting and nurturing Olympic contenders as part of its Performance Pathway.

The Performance Pathway is Irish Sailing’s Olympic talent pipeline. The Performance Pathway counts over 70 sailors from 11 years up in its programme.The Performance Pathway is made up of Junior, Youth, Academy, Development and Olympic squads. It provides young, talented and ambitious Irish sailors with opportunities to move up through the ranks from an early age. With up to 100 young athletes training with the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway, every aspect of their performance is planned and closely monitored while strong relationships are simultaneously built with the sailors and their families

Rory Fitzpatrick is the head coach of Irish Sailing Performance. He is a graduate of University College Dublin and was an Athens 2004 Olympian in the Laser class.

The Performance Director of Irish Sailing is James O’Callaghan. Since 2006 James has been responsible for the development and delivery of athlete-focused, coach-led, performance-measured programmes across the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway. A Business & Economics graduate of Trinity College Dublin, he is a Level 3 Qualified Coach and Level 2 Coach Tutor. He has coached at five Olympic Games and numerous European and World Championship events across multiple Olympic classes. He is also a member of the Irish Sailing Foundation board.

Annalise Murphy is by far and away the biggest Irish sailing star. Her fourth in London 2012 when she came so agonisingly close to a bronze medal followed by her superb silver medal performance four years later at Rio won the hearts of Ireland. Murphy is aiming to go one better in Tokyo 2021. 

Under head coach Rory Fitzpatrick, the coaching staff consists of Laser Radial Academy coach Sean Evans, Olympic Laser coach Vasilij Zbogar and 49er team coach Matt McGovern.

The Irish Government provides funding to Irish Sailing. These funds are exclusively for the benefit of the Performance Pathway. However, this falls short of the amount required to fund the Performance Pathway in order to allow Ireland compete at the highest level. As a result the Performance Pathway programme currently receives around €850,000 per annum from Sport Ireland and €150,000 from sponsorship. A further €2 million per annum is needed to have a major impact at the highest level. The Irish Sailing Foundation was established to bridge the financial gap through securing philanthropic donations, corporate giving and sponsorship.

The vision of the Irish Sailing Foundation is to generate the required financial resources for Ireland to scale-up and execute its world-class sailing programme. Irish Sailing works tirelessly to promote sailing in Ireland and abroad and has been successful in securing funding of 1 million euro from Sport Ireland. However, to compete on a par with other nations, a further €2 million is required annually to realise the ambitions of our talented sailors. For this reason, the Irish Sailing Foundation was formed to seek philanthropic donations. Led by a Board of Directors and Head of Development Kathryn Grace, the foundation lads a campaign to bridge the financial gap to provide the Performance Pathway with the funds necessary to increase coaching hours, upgrade equipment and provide world class sport science support to a greater number of high-potential Irish sailors.

The Senior and Academy teams of the Performance Pathway are supported with the provision of a coach, vehicle, coach boat and boats. Even with this level of subsidy there is still a large financial burden on individual families due to travel costs, entry fees and accommodation. There are often compromises made on the amount of days a coach can be hired for and on many occasions it is necessary to opt out of major competitions outside Europe due to cost. Money raised by the Irish Sailing Foundation will go towards increased quality coaching time, world-class equipment, and subsiding entry fees and travel-related costs. It also goes towards broadening the base of talented sailors that can consider campaigning by removing financial hurdles, and the Performance HQ in Dublin to increase efficiency and reduce logistical issues.

The ethos of the Performance Pathway is progression. At each stage international performance benchmarks are utilised to ensure the sailors are meeting expectations set. The size of a sailor will generally dictate which boat they sail. The classes selected on the pathway have been identified as the best feeder classes for progression. Currently the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway consists of the following groups: * Pathway (U15) Optimist and Topper * Youth Academy (U19) Laser 4.7, Laser Radial and 420 * Development Academy (U23) Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX * Team IRL (direct-funded athletes) Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX

The Irish Sailing performance director produces a detailed annual budget for the programme which is presented to Sport Ireland, Irish Sailing and the Foundation for detailed discussion and analysis of the programme, where each item of expenditure is reviewed and approved. Each year, the performance director drafts a Performance Plan and Budget designed to meet the objectives of Irish Performance Sailing based on an annual review of the Pathway Programmes from Junior to Olympic level. The plan is then presented to the Olympic Steering Group (OSG) where it is independently assessed and the budget is agreed. The OSG closely monitors the delivery of the plan ensuring it meets the agreed strategy, is within budget and in line with operational plans. The performance director communicates on an ongoing basis with the OSG throughout the year, reporting formally on a quarterly basis.

Due to the specialised nature of Performance Sport, Irish Sailing established an expert sub-committee which is referred to as the Olympic Steering Group (OSG). The OSG is chaired by Patrick Coveney and its objective is centred around winning Olympic medals so it oversees the delivery of the Irish Sailing’s Performance plan.

At Junior level (U15) sailors learn not only to be a sailor but also an athlete. They develop the discipline required to keep a training log while undertaking fitness programmes, attending coaching sessions and travelling to competitions. During the winter Regional Squads take place and then in spring the National Squads are selected for Summer Competitions. As sailors move into Youth level (U19) there is an exhaustive selection matrix used when considering a sailor for entry into the Performance Academy. Completion of club training programmes, attendance at the performance seminars, physical suitability and also progress at Junior and Youth competitions are assessed and reviewed. Once invited in to the Performance Academy, sailors are given a six-month trial before a final decision is made on their selection. Sailors in the Academy are very closely monitored and engage in a very well planned out sailing, training and competition programme. There are also defined international benchmarks which these sailors are required to meet by a certain age. Biannual reviews are conducted transparently with the sailors so they know exactly where they are performing well and they are made aware of where they may need to improve before the next review.

©Afloat 2020

Irish Sailing Performance Head Quarters

Irish Sailing's base for the exclusive use of its own teams are located on the grounds of the Commissioners of Irish Lights in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The Irish Sailing Performance HQ houses the senior Irish sailing teams such as Olympic Silver Medalist Annalise Murphy

The HQ plans were announced in May 2018 and opened in March 2019.

The HQ comprises a number of three converted shipping containers and a floating slipway and pontoon

The HQ aim is to improve both training and educational opportunities for them, thereby creating systematic medal potential.

The Performance HQ is entirely mobile and has space for briefings and athlete education, a gym, gear storage and a boat maintenance area.

The athlete briefing room can then be shipped directly to international competitions such as the Olympics Regatta and provide a base for athletes overseas.