#Ports&ShippingReview: Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene, where the European Sustainable Shipping Forum has called on European shipowners and port authorities for urgent clarification of rules regarding use of sulphur scrubbers due on 1 January 2015.

Dublin Port Company paid a dividend of €8m to the State based on its financial results for year 2013.

During the Legenderry Maritime Festival which culminated with a send-off farewell of Clipper Race yachts, the host port also celebrated their 160th anniversary.

A port snapshot of shipping activity on Waterford Estuary revealed an eclectic range of vessels involving foreign naval patrolboats, a luxury €13m sale-listed motoryacht and a livestock carrier trading to Libya.

In addition to the WD Mersey a dredger carrying out operations along the estuary for the Port of Waterford Company.

The Irish economy grew according to CSO in that there was a 2.7% increase in GDP in Q1 this year compared to same period 2013. As for GNP this rose by 0.5% over the same quarter this year.

Harland & Wolff, the shipbuilder-turned renewable energy giant manufacturer, suffered a £3.8m loss in 2013, according to newly-filed results.

Samskip Multimodal announced a new part-load services (LCL/groupage) between Italy and Ireland offering an alternative to traditional road haulage part load services.