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Displaying items by tag: Belfast Port Masterplan

#BelfastPort – In this 400th anniversary year of Belfast Harbour which was established by a Royal Charter, the port in 2013 has embarked on a Port Master Plan for a period over the next 20-30 Years.

The Masterplan sets out Belfast Harbour Company's (BHC) medium to long term development plans for consultation in order to inform stakeholders and assist local and regional planning authorities to prepare and revise their own plans.

BHC plays an essential role in the local economy of Belfast and regional economy of Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland economy is largely dependent on seaborne trade and BHC handles 60% of this trade and 20% for the island of Ireland.

Belfast Harbour directly and indirectly supports approximately 31% of Northern Ireland's Gross Value Add (GVA) and 27% of employment. The Harbour Estate, extending to almost 2,000 acres, is home to over 650 businesses employing circa 17,000 people.

Forecasts for Belfast Harbour, indicate a potential growth in port tonnage of circa 68% from 17.6 million tonnes in the base year (2012) to 29.3 million tonnes in 2030. This represents a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.8%

The capacity analysis and resulting infrastructure and land strategy indicates that, to accommodate the projected tonnage of 29.3 million tonnes, an additional 60 acres of land must be created through reclamation.

The infrastructure and land strategy includes a significant increase in the intensification of use of the current facilities through the redevelopment of existing infrastructure.

For further details of the Belfast Harbour Port Masterplan, click here to download a PDF copy.

 

Published in Belfast Lough

The Half Ton Class was created by the Offshore Racing Council for boats within the racing band not exceeding 22'-0". The ORC decided that the rule should "....permit the development of seaworthy offshore racing yachts...The Council will endeavour to protect the majority of the existing IOR fleet from rapid obsolescence caused by ....developments which produce increased performance without corresponding changes in ratings..."

When first introduced the IOR rule was perfectly adequate for rating boats in existence at that time. However yacht designers naturally examined the rule to seize upon any advantage they could find, the most noticeable of which has been a reduction in displacement and a return to fractional rigs.

After 1993, when the IOR Mk.III rule reached it termination due to lack of people building new boats, the rule was replaced by the CHS (Channel) Handicap system which in turn developed into the IRC system now used.

The IRC handicap system operates by a secret formula which tries to develop boats which are 'Cruising type' of relatively heavy boats with good internal accommodation. It tends to penalise boats with excessive stability or excessive sail area.

Competitions

The most significant events for the Half Ton Class has been the annual Half Ton Cup which was sailed under the IOR rules until 1993. More recently this has been replaced with the Half Ton Classics Cup. The venue of the event moved from continent to continent with over-representation on French or British ports. In later years the event is held biennially. Initially, it was proposed to hold events in Ireland, Britain and France by rotation. However, it was the Belgians who took the ball and ran with it. The Class is now managed from Belgium. 

At A Glance – Half Ton Classics Cup Winners

  • 2017 – Kinsale – Swuzzlebubble – Phil Plumtree – Farr 1977
  • 2016 – Falmouth – Swuzzlebubble – Greg Peck – Farr 1977
  • 2015 – Nieuwport – Checkmate XV – David Cullen – Humphreys 1985
  • 2014 – St Quay Portrieux – Swuzzlebubble – Peter Morton – Farr 1977
  • 2013 – Boulogne – Checkmate XV – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1985
  • 2011 – Cowes – Chimp – Michael Kershaw – Berret 1978
  • 2009 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978
  • 2007 – Dun Laoghaire – Henri-Lloyd Harmony – Nigel Biggs – Humphreys 1980~
  • 2005 – Dinard – Gingko – Patrick Lobrichon – Mauric 1968
  • 2003 – Nieuwpoort – Général Tapioca – Philippe Pilate – Berret 1978

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