#corkharbour – Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. joined organisers of Cork Harbour Open Weekend in the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven to officially announce the dates for the exciting harbour open weekend. The weekend event will take place on 14th & 15th September 2013 and once again organisers promise it to be an excellent weekend of fun for all the family with many events free to the public.

Organisers are particularly excited about the raft race organised by the scouts on the River Lee which no doubt will be a great spectacle from Cork City quays.

The open weekend is a great opportunity for people to see exactly what Cork Harbour has to offer, and this year will be no exception with the second largest natural harbour in the world playing host too many different activities.

While the programme of events is still coming together, organisers confirmed there will be an open day in the RCYC for anyone keen to try out sailing, a children's crab fishing competition in Cobh, a free open day at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), a rowing race around Spike Island, an Air Sea Rescue Demonstration and family fun on Spike Island. An Irish Naval vessel will also be open to the public for free tours on both Saturday and Sunday in Cork City.

The idea for a Harbour Open Day, now extended to a full weekend, emerged from discussions between various stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the Integrated Strategy for the Harbour in 2007. This has been taken forward by the Harbour Management Focus Group (HMFG) which meets quarterly to exchange information on Harbour issues. A HMFG working group comprising representatives from UCC, City and County Councils and the Port of Cork set about working together to engage users of the Harbour and to organise the Open Day.

If anyone is interested in getting involved with Cork Harbour Open Weekend or would like to organise an event, please contact [email protected] to request an event application form. Your event will be promoted on the lead up to the weekend via local media, CorkHarbour.ie website, twitter and facebook.

#portofcork – The Port of Cork has announced an investment of €3 million in new plant equipment following an agreement with crane manufacturer, Liebherr. The investment includes a new LHM 550 Harbour Mobile Crane which will be in operation at Ringaskiddy Deep-water Berth.

Increasingly, importers to the Port of Cork are using Panamax size vessels of over 200 metres in length, so providing the most capable equipment to discharge these vessels is vital to ensuring a fast and efficient turnaround. With the recent fodder crisis in Ireland, the Port of Cork has seen an increase of hay shipments and dry bulk to the port, justifying the need for new plant equipment. The new LHM 550 crane will enhance the Port of Cork's capabilities in handling this type of vessel and is critical to efficient bulk and container discharge operations in Ringaskiddy.

Over the last two years, the Port of Cork has invested up to €7 million in the Ringaskiddy Deep-water Berth demonstrating their commitment to providing the best possible service to port customers. Following the purchase of additional handling equipment in Ringaskiddy in 2012, the Port of Cork and global shipping company Maersk, were able to commence their direct container service to Ireland. Container services such as this have enabled the Port of Cork to greatly increase volumes of imports and exports. The Port has seen a dramatic increase of almost 50% in bulk cargo and anticipates a further increase in demand in this dry bulk sector highlighting the need for continued investment in new equipment.

Speaking about the investment, Mr Denis Healy Manager of Engineering Services/Deputy Chief Executive, Port of Cork said: "The LHM 550 crane is designed for versatile and efficient cargo handling and will provide greater efficiency for all our customers. This adds to the recent investment the Port made last year in our new Container Terminal handling operations in Ringaskiddy. The Port has seen a dramatic increase in throughput in Ringaskiddy mainly due to an increase in bulk cargo and with the current fodder crisis in Ireland; there have been a number of large shipments of hay arriving into the Port."

The Port of Cork is ideally located to offer state of the art facilities in the offshore oil exploration market in the Celtic Sea and Porcupine basin. In 2012 the Port of Cork successfully assisted with the BarryRoe Oil Exploration Project. This creates opportunities and challenges for the Port in terms of berths available; however the Port is confident that the current development plans for Ringaskiddy will answer the needs of the port and those of the region in the short, medium and long term.
Other areas which the Port of Cork anticipates an increase is the agri-business, particularly when the reforms to the CAP come into effect in 2015. The Port of Cork expects to handle much larger shipments in the future so it is imperative that the Port has the right equipment and berths available to be able to handle different types of cargo.

The Port of Cork is a key link to the economic success of Ireland and in particular the entire Munster region. 98% of goods imported or exported from Ireland are moved by ship, highlighting the importance of ports to our economy. Earlier in the year, the Port of Cork outlined plans for potential Port development in Ringaskiddy. These proposed developments are the first phase of the implementation of the Port of Cork's Strategic Development Plan Review (2010), the core principles of which were endorsed in the recently launched National Ports Policy.

This Policy has also identified the continued commercial development of the Port of Cork Company as a key strategic objective in terms of allowing the Port of Cork to meet the needs of the Country in the short, medium and long-term. It is the hoped that the Port of Cork will be in a position to lodge a planning application for the future development of Ringaskiddy at the end of 2013.

#NMCI – The President of Cork Institute of Technology, Dr Brendan Murphy, speaking at Conferrings at The National Maritime College of Ireland at Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour today, Thursday, June 20th, said that nine years on since opening, the NMCI could be seen to have come of age.

Degrees awarded included BSc in Nautical Science, Bachelor of Engineering in Marine & Plant Engineering and Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Management & Naval Studies. Over 50 students received their parchments.

Dr Murphy said the shared vision of maritime education, training and professional development by CIT, the Irish Naval Service and the Department of Education and Defence ensures that the education available at the NMCI is world class. "This National Centre represents a state investment of the order of €50 million in Maritime Education and Training. During the last two years R&D activity has attracted funding for over ten projects – this activity now involves ten full-time personnel: the growth in R&D has led to the establishment of the Halpin Centre for Research & Innovation. NMCI Services offers specialist maritime training and consultancy both at home and abroad and the new, dedicated, Bridge Simulation Team will ensure that we capitalise on the extensive simulation facilities available here.

The continued development of the proposed Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) involving a partnership between CIT, the Naval Service and UCC provides a focus within Ireland for applied research and enterprise development in the maritime and energy sector."

Dr Murphy continued "It is now clear that the future of CIT, its students and staff is the creation, in partnership with IT Tralee, of the multi-campus Munster Technological University. CIT and IT Tralee have a shared vision for the creation of the MTU which will result in a new university which will build on the strengths of the existing partners and will deliver significant added value via an expanded and enhanced role in regional development."

Dr Murphy offered his congratulations to the Graduates on their achievements and wished them well in to the future.

#portfofcork – Are you a budding photographer with a keen interest in all things related to Cork Harbour and the Port of Cork? If so then you should enter the Port of Cork Photography Competition.

Through the lens of people who live and visit Cork, this competition is looking for exciting imagery which reflects the theme "Cork Harbour – A Port in Focus". Cork Harbour and the Port of Cork play such important roles in the everyday lives of many people and it is hoped that some of this can be captured through imaginative photographs of our action-packed harbour.

The winning photographer will have his/her photograph designed into a postcard which will be made available free to tourists via local tourist offices and will also be given to individual cruise passengers when they visit Cork. The winner will also be invited to a special launch of their postcard in July, when An Post and the Port of Cork will unveil a new stamp collection.

The competition is open to all ages and levels based on the theme "Cork Harbour – A Port in Focus". The closing date for entries is 10th July 2013.

Photographs must be based on the theme "Cork Harbour – A Port in Focus" and can be emailed to Sara Mackeown [email protected] by the 10th July. Late entries will not be accepted. Photographs should be no larger than 3MB. Winner will be announced on 12th July 2013. Please do not submit faces of people without their prior permission. The winner will retain full copyright of their image but must allow Port of Cork to reproduce the image, without charge, on the postcard and for PR and promotional purposes.

For more information please contact Sara Mackeown, Port of Cork Tel 021 4625375 or email [email protected]

#classicboat – Crosshaven Traditional Sail 2013 kicks off this weekend in Cork Harbour with boats arriving from Friday at the Hugh Coveney pier, Crosshaven. The first race of the festival is at 2pm on Saturday and is to be followed by a best dressed pirate and wench competition.

On Sunday in a highlight of the weekend gathering Pat Tanner will give a talk on the Traditional Boats of Ireland Project in Cronin's Bar, Crosshaven.

The Traditional Boats Project is the result of a combined effort by Irish people who are passionate about the rich diversity of boat types throughout the country. This project is a by-product of a loosely affiliated group of individuals with a shared realisation that Ireland's traditional boat types are rapidly disappearing.

The full programme of events is below: 

Friday 14th:

Boats arriving at Hugh Coveney Pier
1900 – 2030 Registration for the Early Birds
followed by
2100: Welcoming Reception in "O'Reilly's Bar"

Saturday 15th :
0900 - 1230 Registration of Boats at Sail
Office on Pier
1200: Knot-tying competition
1300: Race briefing on the Pier
1400: Race start in vicinity of Grassy
1700: Boats returning –
1830: Mad Fish best dressed pirate and wench competition
Bar Food, Music & Craic in the Pubs

Sunday 16th:
1000: Rise & Shine & Post Mortems
1200: Traditional Boats of Ireland talk by Pat Tanner in Cronin's Bar
1300: Skipper's briefing on the pier
1400: Racing (all types of Craft)
1600: Crab-fishing competition on the Pier, best dressed pirate under 14 competition
1700: Spectacular Parade of Sail as Race
finishes at the Pier followed after much deliberation with the Prize Giving & Craic at Johnny's Return/ Buckley's Bar

NB: Times are subject to change due to Weather/Tides

The Port of Cork and the Port of Shenzhen today formally signed a Sister Port Agreement which will see both ports developing the trade and shipping business while deepening the understanding and relationship between each other. The signing took place in the Port of Cork offices during a two day visit of eleven delegates from Shenzhen to the Port of Cork.

The Port of Shenzhen and the Port of Cork are important ports in their respective regions and given the growth of the world's shipping industry Shenzhen Port and the Port of Cork face common opportunities as well as challenges. The Port of Shenzhen is one of the busiest and fastest growing ports in southern mainland China. Located in the southern region of the Pearl River Delta in China's Guangdong province, it is the economic hinterland for Hong Kong trade with the Mainland and also one of the most important ports in terms of China's international trade.

Shenzhen port is home to 39 shipping companies with 131 international container routes. There are 560 ships on call at Shenzhen port on a monthly basis and also 21 feeder routes to other ports in the Pearl River Delta region.
This sister port agreement will see the leadership and management of both ports maintaining regular contact and will look to send staff for an exchange of visits to their respective ports to discuss issues of mutual benefit and further enrich the cooperation and collaboration between both ports. There will also be an agreement to recommend beneficial partners to each other.

Speaking at the signing of the sister port agreement, Chairman of the Port of Cork, John Mullins said: "We have signed this sister port agreement with the Port of Shenzhen to the benefit of both ports. We anticipate much cooperation and exchanging of port expertise into the future and we know the Port of Cork can expect to learn a lot from Shenzhen in terms of international trade, port development and expanding our services."

He continued: "This really is an excellent opportunity for the Port of Cork and one we intend to maximise.

Both ports are committed to working together to draw upon the experience and business expertise between the two ports and broaden the exchange and cooperation between each other in the areas of port planning and building, operation and management, environmental protection, information technology, personnel training and port security.

During their visit to the Port of Cork, the delegates from Shenzhen visited the port facilities, Cork City and Cobh.

#rnli – A 36' motor cruiser on passage from Kinsale to Crosshaven with two people on board, lost one of its two engines with the second engine showing alarms. As the vessel was off Ringabella and on a lee shore, the skipper requested assistance.

At 5.50pm this afternoon, the pagers of the volunteer crew at Crosshaven RNLI were activated and Aidan O'Connor, Vincent Fleming and Ritchie Kelleher launched into force 6 South Easterly winds and rough seas, met with the vessel off Roches Point and escorted it safely to Crosshaven.

#rnli – While performing an exercise at yesterday's lifeboat station Open Day in Crosshaven, Cork harbour, Valentia Coast Guard contacted the lifeboat by radio alerting them to a yacht with possible fire on board in the Owenabue river upstream of the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

The lifeboat immediately broke off and headed to the scene reports Jon Mather of the lifeboat station. On arrival, the crew checked the yacht which had two adults and two children on board and found the engine bay fire was out before towing the vessel to Crosshaven Boatyard for repairs.

The RNLI volunteer crew on this service were Vincent Fleming, Ritchie Kelleher and James Fegan.

#rcyc – It was as a Thursday night should be! This is a quote from former RCYC Admiral Conor O'Donovan as he returned to the club after racing on a glorious summer evening writes Claire Bateman. It was the first evening of the Union Chandlery league and the Royal Cork clubhouse looked resplendent with the new mosaic compass at the base of the flagstaff and the newly awarded Eco blue flag for the Royal Cork marina flying proudly in the warm evening breeze.

The twenty six strong fleet sailed in a 10knot E/SE breeze. Adrielle was the committee boat with Paul O'Shea as principal race officer and he sent the fleet on a course first to Corkbeg and then to Cuskinny before a beat to East Ferry 2. They then had a run against the blinding wonderful sunset to No. 12 and had some loops between Corkbeg and Grassy. The whitesail fleet only had one loop before finishing the race.

The evening ended with a BBQ for competitors.

In glorious sunshine, with some real summer heat at last, the town of Cobh in Cork Harbour was en féte to day writes Claire Bateman.

Scroll down for photos by Bob Bateman.

Adding to the mardi gras atmosphere and towering over the town was the magnificent cruise ship, Independence of the Seas, a Freedom Class Vessel of some 154,407 gross tonnes and 1120ft. in length.

She carries 4,370 passengers catered for by 1,360 crew.

She is a regular visitor to the Port of Cork that has fifty scheduled cruise ship calls for this season.

Today in Cobh could have been a scene from Spain or France such was the colour, excitement, entertainment on the promenade, food and craft fairs.