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Displaying items by tag: New EcoClass Tanker Newbuilds

#Ports&ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where a snapshot on the port of Wicklow reveals modest signs of traffic not seen since 2008.

Irish Continental Group (ICG) issued their interim management statement for the first four months of the year, the group's revenue rose 5.8% to €76.7 million, compared with €72.5 million in the same period last year.

Arklow Ruler (2006/2,999grt) which ran aground at the entrance of Drogheda Port at the mouth of the Boyne, was eventually re-floated and proceeded to Antwerp. A similar incident took place off the Co. Louth port by a sister in 2010.

d'Amico International Shipping S.A., an international marine transportation company which has a subsidiary based in Ireland since 2001, announced additional pair of medium-range "ECO" tanker class newbuilds from a Vietnamese yard.

There was further Irish related newbuild news from Ardmore Shipping Corporation's Cork based financial HQ, as they acquired a 49,997 dwt Eco-design product and chemical tanker from a South Korean yard at a price of $36m.

Manx shipping is not exclusively centred on Douglas and that of the famous 'steam-packet' ferry company, as in Ramsey, the island's only cargoship operator Mezeron Freight Services runs a 'liner' service linking to Belfast and also Glasson Dock, England.

The port was where the Ramsey Steamship Company was based until their sad demise in their centenary year in 2013, when their Ben Maye was chartered as the S.S. Hare for the Lockout 1913 commemorative voyage from Liverpool to Dublin Port.

Published in Ports & Shipping

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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