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Displaying items by tag: Tanker discharge molasses

#TankerSnap – The above photograph is not of the red-hulled tanker Iver Ability which anchored in Dublin Bay for more than five months and in doing so drew much mainstream media attention, writes Jehan Ashmore.

So what is the identity of this tanker?... with this view overlooking the vessel's complex looking cargo tanks pipeline network. The answer to the vessel's identity is that of the MS Simon, a 40,000dwt Liberian flagged oil-chemical bulk liquids tanker.

The vessel had berthed in Dublin Port nine days ago with a cargo of molasses from Guatemala in Central America. This followed a crossing of the Atlantic, where MS Simon made an en-route call to Amsterdam prior to docking in Dublin Port.

The 176m long vessel discharged the molasses at a northside fuel jetty before shifting to the south bank along Deepwater Quay. 

At this same berth (No.47) is where previously Iver Ability made several calls during the prolonged anchorage that arose following a 'cargo reaction' incident in transporting bitumen in the port.

The final port call was prior to the festive season. On that occasion a change of certain personnel of the 129m vessel was undertaken. 

Late last month Iver Ability finally departed Dublin Bay bound for the Netherlands. 

On completion of duties that is of the MS Simon, the tanker departed the capital this week. On Thursday the ship was monitored offshore of the Scottish coast. At that stage the tanker was off Islay, the southernmost of the Inner Hebrideas.

Published in Dublin Port

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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