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Displaying items by tag: New Liner Agency

#NewLinerAgency – A UK liner agency, the Kestrel Group enters the Irish market this month.

Operating as Kestrel Liner Agencies (Ireland) Ltd, the firm will open its first office in Dublin, and the new entrant is expected to open further offices soon in Cork and Belfast.

The new entrant takes over the business of Greenco Shipping and the existing shareholders and employees will join the new company.

Kestrel Liner Agencies (Ireland) Ltd will represent Hoegh Autoliners, Tropical, Universal Africa Line, Cargo Levant, Nirint Shipping, Ecuadorian Line, South American Independent Line, Onego, Fednav and Nordana.

The Kestral Group was the first UK liner agent to combine liner agency with forwarding and NVOCC activity. The Group has formed strategic partnerships and joint ventures to grow the business into a global brand.

Andy Thorne, Group Chairman of Kestrel said: "Following our growth last year, opening in San Francisco in May and Cape Town in November, I am delighted that we have been able to conclude this expansion into Ireland. This is great news for the whole of the Irish market, giving shippers and consignees greater choice of carrier, and principals extended coverage.

The chairman added, “Kestrel is the first new Liner Agency business in Ireland for many years and I am certain that our stellar growth experienced elsewhere will be mirrored here. I am delighted that John Lalor, Bob Kevitt and their team are joining us.

It was confirmed by the chairman that Kestrel Liner Agencies (Ireland) Ltd will be recruiting additional sales personnel in Dublin, Cork and Belfast to assist the new strategic partnerships to grow the business. “The agency will be looking for self-motivated freight people to join, so if you know how to find logistical solutions for customers, are relationship driven and want to join Europe's fastest growing Liner Agency business, please do contact us."

Further planned expansion for 2016 includes the UAE, Namibia and additional offices in the Caribbean.

In 1994 Kestrel was formed and is the only shipping company to be named in the Queen's birthday honours list in the UK, receiving the much coveted Queen's Award for International Trade.

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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