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Jehan Ashmore

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

Transfennica’s Timca on charter for Irish Ferries, above departing Dublin (serving routes to Wales and France), is a freight-only container/ro-ro (con-ro) carrier; however, its capability to convey 640 TEU containers (see cell guides, left/aft of the superstructure) is made redundant, given the ferry operator does not carry this cargo mode. An ICG container division, EUCON, however, uses lo-lo vessels, which has increased with a sixth such ship, MV Ranger, which started service after departing Rotterdam (Waalhaven) on Wednesday and which arrived in Dublin Bay this morning.

Transfennica’s Timca Trades on Yet Awaits Norbay’s Rosslare Route Return

22nd March 2024 Irish Ferries
Transfennica's Timca, on short-term freight charter for ICG's Irish Ferries Dublin-Wales/France routes, is due to end when Norbay returns to Rosslare this weekend, releasing Oscar Wilde, if all goes according to plan, writes Jehan Ashmore. Since late February, the chartering…
Manx flagged catamaran Manannan of the Isle of Man Steam Packet is set to return to seasonal service, among them Dublin-Douglas route duties, but not until a safety inspection is carried out by Irish marine authorities as the fast-ferry is in the Irish capital today.

Manx Cat Calls to Dublin Port following Recent Berthing Trials at Liverpool’s New Ferry Terminal

21st March 2024 Dublin Port
Observed entering Dublin Bay this morning was the Isle of Man Steam Packet’s Manannan, having departed Douglas Harbour, but the fast-ferry was not in service, writes Jehan Ashmore. The reason for the call by the 98m catamaran craft to Dublin…
The annual ESPO Award on Social Integration of Ports' theme for this year’s edition is “port projects or strategies in the field of circular economy that benefit the city and/or the surrounding community.

ESPO Award 2024 Will Reward ‘Circular Economy’ Projects in Europe's Ports - Competition is Open

21st March 2024 Ports & Shipping
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Social Integration of Ports is entering its 16th edition. The theme of this year’s edition is “port projects or strategies in the field of circular economy that benefit the city and/or the…
Manannan, fast-ferry of the Isle of Man Steam Packet during last week’s berthing trials at the new Liverpool ferry terminal

Isle of Man Government Lease for New Liverpool Ferry Terminal Not Yet Signed

21st March 2024 Ferry
The Isle of Man Government says it hasn't signed a lease with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. for the new £70m ferry terminal in the Port of Liverpool yet. In the Tynwald (parliament) this week, Treasury Minister, Alex Allinson…

Stena Line Launches Newly Refurbished Ferries on North Sea Route of Harwich-Hook van Holland

20th March 2024 Stena Line
Stena Line in response to changing needs of its customers has carried out a major renewal of its North Sea ferries, Stena Britannica and Stena Hollandica which operate the Harwich-Hook van Holland route.  The unique transformation, which took just 18…
Newbuild MV Arklow Resolve preparing for sea trials when under tow from the Royal Bodewes shipyard near Groningen to Delfzijl on the Ems Estuary, which borders Germany. This morning, the EcoTrader 6,800 dwt class cargo ship carried out trials in the Wadden Sea, where ferries go back and forth to Borkum, the largest of the East Frisian Islands in the North Sea, which is due north of the Dutch province of Groningen.

Arklow Resolve Underway in the Wadden Sea for Shipbuilder Sea Trials While Ferries Go Back & Forth

20th March 2024 Arklow Shipping
Newbuild MV Arklow Resolve departed the Dutch north-east port of Eemshaven for the Wadden Sea on the southern North Sea for shipbuilder sea trials this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore. This is Arklow Shipping Ltd.'s latest newbuild, which represents the fifth…
Construction of an enhanced visitor experience facilities at Loop Head Lighthouse in Co. Clare has been approved by An Bord Pleánala.

An Bord Pleánala Approves Construction of Enhanced Visitor Experience at Loop Head Lighthouse

20th March 2024 Lighthouses
Irish Lights has welcomed the announcement of the approval by An Bord Pleánala for the construction of an enhanced visitor experience facilities at Loop Head Lighthouse in Co. Clare. "We are delighted that approval has been granted for the enhancement…
P&O scandal: Since the mass sacking two years ago, P&O Ferries has continued to use low-paid crew on short-term contracts, employed via an agency. Afloat adds the second year anniversary took place on St. Patrick’s Day, 2022 saw P&O Ferries sack almost 800 seafarers and staff from the ferry operator’s routes of UK to Ireland, France and the Netherlands, and replaced them with agency staff on less than the minimum wage. Above the operator’s famous house-flag on the ropax, Norbay which is on charter to ICG/Irish Ferries, but had gone for planned bi-annual dry-docking at A&P Falmouth, is due to re-enter service on the Rosslare-Pembroke route tomorrow, 20 March.

UK Government Ministers Have Done Nothing to Stop Repeat of P&O Ferries Scandal, Unions Say

19th March 2024 Ferry
Trade unions in the UK have called for proper legal protection for seafarers on the second anniversary of the P&O Ferries mass sudden sackings scandal, warning that government ministers have “done nothing” to stop other ferry firms from following suit.…
MV Isle of Islay, after launching in Turkey at the weekend. The newbuild is the first of twin ferries to serve its island namesake and neighbouring Jura, when it is to enter service in October for operator CalMac.

First of Two Newbuilds for CalMac’s Islay Services Successfully Launched at Shipyard in Turkey

19th March 2024 Shipyards
The first newbuild ferry of two to serve Scottish west coast islands, Islay and Jura has been successfully launched at a shipyard in Turkey. At the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova, the MV Isle of Islay was launched on…
The sole active Naval Service patrol ship, LÉ George Bernard Shaw, was unavailable to take part in a large drug search off the Cork coast last weekend. During that time, the vessel was taking part in St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the south shore of Dublin Bay.

Sole Active Naval Service Ship Unavailable for Cork Drugs Search due to St Patrick’s Day Call in Dun Laoghaire Harbour

19th March 2024 Navy
LÉ George Bernard Shaw, the sole operational ship of the Naval Service, was unavailable to take part in a large drug search off the Cork coast this weekend as it formed part of St. Patrick’s Day festivities held in Dun…
LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64) is to sail into Dún Laoghaire Harbour for the St Patrick’s weekend. The crew will also be taking part in the town’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, on Sunday at 11am. The Naval Service Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) will be open to the public for guided tours by crew from 12–3 p.m. on Saturday 16th and 1.30-4pm on Sunday 17th. They are free of charge, no booking is required, & last approx. 20 minutes. AFLOAT adds that this is the fourth and final of the P60 class which entered service in 2016, and has a crew of 44, including six officers.

L.É. George Bernard Shaw to Visit Dún Laoghaire Harbour for St. Patrick’s Weekend

14th March 2024 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
Dún Laoghaire Harbour this Friday is to welcome the Naval Service OPV LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64) ahead of the St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations. The Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) is named after the renowned playwright George Bernard Shaw, who had…
Fast-ferry Manannan during berthing trials at the new Isle of Man Steam Packet Terminal in Liverpool. According to the IOM Government, the start date of the first scheduled public sailing to arrive at the new terminal will follow the completion of the trials and be confirmed by the Steam Packet in due course.

Isle of Man Steam Packet’s Manannan Successfully Completes Berth Trials at New Liverpool Ferry Terminal

14th March 2024 Ferry
The Isle of Man Steam Packet’s fast-ferry Manannan made its first berthing trials on Merseyside’s new £70 million ferry terminal at Liverpool, from where they will connect Douglas. The 1998 built Manannan, which operates seasonal services, undertook the exercise yesterday…
At the Port of Sligo this morning, a general cargo ship, Wilson Lahn at the Deepwater Quay to load fishmeal, while another Wilson ASA operated cargo ship, Wilson Mosel, which last night completed loading the same cargo, is also seen at dawn, departing and bound for Norway. The scene of two ships at once at the north-west port follows the same scenario on 11 February, when more vessels of the Bergan-based operator, Wilson Ruhr, departed the port and also went to Norway, while Wilson Elbe was inbound. Up until then, a two-ship scene was a rare sight at the small regional port.

Busy Times at the Port of Sligo as Wilson ASA Cargo Ship Trio Load Fishmeal

11th March 2024 Ports & Shipping
While tracking vessels in the north-west today, among them passenger ferry Aran Islands Express, a trio of general cargo ships operated by Wilson ASA have been trading in the Port of Sligo at the weekend, writes Jehan Ashmore The operator…
Aran Islands Express, which has completed an overhaul at Mooney Boat, Killybegs, Co. Donegal, AFLOAT tracked this morning depart on its return passage to Co. Clare to resume 'seasonal’ ferry services for Doolin Ferry Co. In addition, this summer, the company is to introduce a new, larger passenger ferry, setting new standards of facilities on routes to the Atlantic archipelago.

Aran Islands Express Sets Sail Fresh From Overhaul as St. Patrick’s Day Fast Approaches

11th March 2024 Ferry
Doolin Ferry Co.’s 294-passenger Aran Islands Express this morning departed Killybegs, Co. Donegal, fresh from overhaul in readiness for St. Patrick’s Day and this year's season, writes Jehan Ashmore. Afloat tracked Aran Islands Express, having left Mooney Boats, the boat-builder,…
Whisky Festival: In a campaign to have additional CalMac capacity to Islay, the Fèis Ìle Committee says that despite other island festivals in the summer season having additional ferry support, they have

World Famous Islay Whisky Festival at Risk Over Lack of CalMac Capacity

10th March 2024 Ferry
The organisers of one of the world's most famous whisky festivals in Scotland say it has been put at risk after being left "high and dry" due to the ongoing ferry fiasco at CalMac. Visitors to Islay, off the south-west…
ICG has chartered Transfennica’s Timca, a container/ro-ro (con-ro) carrier on a temporary basis to trade for Irish Ferries two Dublin-based routes to Holyhead and Cherbourg, France. Above the con-ro passes the same number of cooling towers in mainland Europe, from where the ice-strengthened 205m vessel had operated on a route linking Finland, Belgium, and also the UK. The freighter carried out berthing trails at Holyhead and previously at Cherbourg, when on a repositioning voyage to Dublin. Some of Timca’s earliest sailings from Holyhead, Afloat, observed on the Dublin Bay horizon, whereas this weekend is operating a Cherbourg round trip in tandem with W.B. Yeats, which for the first time on the Ireland-France routes sees a two-ship service resume when Oscar Wilde rejoins later this month, ending the charter of Timca.

ICG Charters Transfennica Con-Ro for Irish Ferries Dublin-Wales/France Routes As Oscar Wilde Covers Norbay's Dry-Docking

9th March 2024 Irish Ferries
Irish Continental Group (ICG), it is understood, has a ‘short-term’ freight charter of Transfennica’s container/ro-ro (con-ro) Timca, operating Irish Ferries two Dublin-based routes to Holyhead and Cherbourg, writes Jehan Ashmore. As previously reported, the freight-only Timca (details below) has replaced…
P&O Liberté, the company’s newest hybrid ferry custom-built for the Dover-Calais route, which was due to debut in November but was delayed, has finally completed its delivery voyage from China. The new build, AFLOAT, tracked off Dover on sea trials in recent days and is back in port, is the second of twin ‘Fusion’ class ferries that is to enter service soon on the UK-France route and join last year’s leadship, P&O Pioneer, as the world’s largest double-ended hybrid ferries. The Fusion ships, costing £230m, use hybrid capacity to reduce carbon emissions by up to 40%, with capacity for more reductions when greater shore power is available.

P&O Ferries Decarbonisation of its Fleet as Second ‘Fusion’ Class Double-Ender Due to Debut on Dover-Calais

8th March 2024 Ferry
Dover-Calais operator, P&O Ferries has shared promising results from its new fuel and energy efficiency initiative following significant measures to reduce carbon emissions in 2023. The introduction of P&O Ferries’ new dedicated Fleet Support Centre for Fuel and Energy Efficiency,…
During 2023, taking all European Sea Port Organisation (ESPO) board meetings and technical committees together, women represented 41% of the port professionals participating in the meetings. ESPO is the principal interface between European seaports and the European institutions and its policy makers. Above last year’s ESPO General Assembly, in Bremen, Germany.

In 2023 Women Represented 41% of Port Professionals Participating in ESPO Work

8th March 2024 Ports & Shipping
In 2023, taking all ESPO board meetings and technical committees together, women represented 41% of the port professionals participating in the meetings. This is a slightly higher level compared to the share of women participating in 2022, which was 38%.…
Major European shipping operator, CLdN, is to add a new (Lo-Lo) container route from the Port of Cork to Rotterdam due to the increasing demand to move freight between Ireland and the continental mainland. The service from Ringaskiddy (above) to the Dutch port is to start this month and complements their existing (Ro-Ro) Cork-Zeebrugge link to Belgium.

CLdN to Launch New Port of Cork-Rotterdam (Lo Lo) Route and Expand Capacity Between the Dutch Port & UK

8th March 2024 Port of Cork
Compagnie Luxembourgouise de Navigation (CLdN) has announced the launch of a new container route between the Port of Cork and Rotterdam that is to start this month. Operating the route is CLdN Ro Ro S.A., which is chartering two 962…
The shipyard group, Harland & Wolff has signed a contract for a five year subsea fabrication work at one of its yards, Arnish located on the Isle of Lewis (Outer Hebrides) off west Scotland. Above apprentices seen at the facility in recent years.

Contract for Five-Year Subsea Infrastructure Fabrication Work to Take Place at Harland & Wolff (Arnish) Scotland

7th March 2024 Shipyards
Shipyard group, Harland & Wolff has signed a five-year Master Services Agreement for the fabrication of large structures at one of their two Scotland based yard sites. The contract is with a global oil services company supplying subsea infrastructure across…
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