Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Displaying items by tag: Cameroon cargoship

A Cameroon-flagged cargoship at the Port of Sligo that was detained following Afloat's coverage of the ship's arrival more than two weeks ago to the north-west port has been released from impoundment today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

According to the Paris MoU, the Sheksna had been placed under detention at the Irish port on 16th October, which coincided on the same day of Afloat's report and two days after the ships arrival from the Mediterranean port of Sfax in Tunisia.

The Paris MoU is an international maritime organization whose mission is to eliminate the operation of sub-standard ships. This is carried out by a harmonized system of port State control including 27 maritime administrations, among which Ireland is a member State.

Afloat earlier today contacted the Department of Transport which commented that the ship was detained under the provisions of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and that the detention involved the ship's flag state which is Cameroon. The west African nation on the Gulf of Guinea neighbours Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. 

On Tuesday of this week Afloat tracked the 2,769dwt cargoship Sheksna which was noted still berthed at Sligo. This was surprising given the 82m ship has been berthed at the port's Deepwater Quay for almost a fortnight but explained by the ship's impounding carried out by the Irish Marine Survey Office (MSO). 

Afloat contacted the Port of Sligo which confirmed Sheksna had over 2,000 tonnes of olive stone granulate. The cargo was discharged before the MSO impounded the ship.

This afternoon the Port of Sligo informed Afloat that the Sheksna is no longer detained. 

In addition the 26 year old cargoship will sail light (without cargo) tomorrow after noon on the tide. 

Published in Irish Ports

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

Featured Sailing School

INSS sidebutton

Featured Clubs

dbsc mainbutton
Howth Yacht Club
Kinsale Yacht Club
National Yacht Club
Royal Cork Yacht Club
Royal Irish Yacht club
Royal Saint George Yacht Club

Featured Brokers

leinster sidebutton

Featured Webcams

Featured Associations

ISA sidebutton
ICRA
isora sidebutton

Featured Marinas

dlmarina sidebutton

Featured Chandleries

CHMarine Afloat logo
https://afloat.ie/resources/marine-industry-news/viking-marine

Featured Sailmakers

northsails sidebutton
uksails sidebutton
watson sidebutton

Featured Blogs

W M Nixon - Sailing on Saturday
podcast sidebutton
BSB sidebutton
wavelengths sidebutton
 

Please show your support for Afloat by donating