Jehan Ashmore
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.
Newbuild for Doolin Ferry As 300-Seater to Join Fleet this Summer Serving Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher
7th February 2024 Ferry
A newbuild ferry for the Doolin Ferry Company is to enter service to the Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher, with the custom-built vessel scheduled to set sail this summer. The Co. Clare based company said the new 300 seat…
CalMac to Make Trial Moves on Firth of Clyde Route By Pulling Out of Ardrossan after Safety Issues
7th February 2024 Ferry
Scotland's west coast ferry operator, CalMac is making moves to pull out of a key port in North Ayrshire, Ardrossan (serving Arran) in the wake of recent safety issues and adverse weather. CalMac owned by the Scottish Government, has moved…
Darren Byers has been appointed Port Manager at Stena Line based in Belfast Harbour. With over 20 years’ experience within Maritime operations, Darren joins the ferry and port operator from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) where he was Area…
Smurfit Kappa, Europe’s largest paper packaging producer has said today that it has increased volumes in the fourth quarter for last year. As RTE News reports the increase has snapped three successive quarterly declines that led to a 12% drop…
Plans Progress to Redevelop Cork Dockyard for Offshore Wind Assembly Site
6th February 2024 Cork Harbour
At the Cork Dockyard facility at Rushbrooke, Cork Harbour is where redevelopment plans to service planned offshore wind projects have taken a step forward. The plan to support offshore windfarm projects is proposed by the Doyle Shipping Group (DSG) which…
Wärtsilä's Five-Year Lifecycle Agreement With Naval Service for Maintenance of Offshore Patrol Vessel Quartet
6th February 2024 Navy
Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a five-year Optimised Maintenance Agreement with the Irish Naval Service which is to cover four offshore patrol vessels (OPV). The Nasdaq Helsinki listed Wärtsilä group's agreement with the Naval Service, is to ensure the OPV…
Harland & Wolff Sponsor Maritime UK Roundtable Marking Start of National Apprenticeship Week
6th February 2024 Shipyards
Shipbuilder, Harland & Wolff Group is among the participants in the UK of the National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) which is underway and continues to this Sunday, 11 February. As part of National Apprenticeship Week, the Group had sponsored a Maritime…
Ferry Fares at CalMac Could Rise up to 40 % for Visitors to Islands Under Scottish Government Review
5th February 2024 Ferry
Ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) owned by the Scottish Government, could face an increase in fares for visitors to west coast islands as part of a major government review amid rising demand and costs. According to newly-published proposals, suggest that…
Ports Welcome European Parliament's Support for Restoring the 90 Day Temporary Storage Period
5th February 2024 Ports & Shipping
The European Parliament is currently discussing the Commission's proposal for a new EU Regulation on the Union Customs Code. While supporting the aims of the customs reform to significantly improve the efficiency of the customs procedures in the EU, the…
Peel Ports Logistics Agrees Vessel Agency Deal in Liverpool for Renewable Energy Operator Drax
5th February 2024 Ports & Shipping
Peel Ports Logistics has signed a deal to become renewable energy specialist Drax’s new shipping agency service provider for vessels arriving to Liverpool importing biomass. The leading shipping and freight forwarder will support the arrival of all Drax’s ships from…
InfoDay: EU Innovation Fund is Key to Support the Transition to Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport
2nd February 2024 Ports & Shipping
CLIA Europe, ECSA, ESPO, FEPORT, SEA Europe and WaterborneTP have jointly organised the EU Innovation Fund infoday for the waterborne transport sector, co-organised by the European Commission. Approximately 300 participants from the broader waterborne transport sector (private and public stakeholders)…
Ferry passenger numbers carried by Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for last year, were the highest for 16 years. Figures from the operator which has routes between Douglas and Heysham, Belfast, Dublin and Liverpool, reveal more than 623,000 passengers…
Tighter Brexit Related New UK Customs Controls on Exports from Republic to Britain Come into Effect
31st January 2024 Irish Ports
As of Wednesday midnight, new UK customs controls have come into effect on exports crossing the Irish Sea from the Republic to Britain. It was the British government that flagged the move, however this was delayed several times since the…
Newbuild Arklow Grace, the fourth of Arklow Shipping's G-class cargo ship's launched in the Netherlands, took place on the same day when another vessel for the Irish shipowner also first took to the water, writes Jehan Ashmore. At the shipyard of…
Portrait of Stena Line Owner Unveiled at Belfast Harbour Where Ferry Operator Has Record Freight Volumes
30th January 2024 Stena Line
Ferry operator Stena Line has reported a record year for freight volumes in and out of Belfast Harbour on its routes across the North Channel to Scotland and the Irish Sea to England with approximately 587,000 units being transported in…
Shannon Foynes & Largest Port in Europe, Rotterdam Plan Green Fuels Supply-Chain to Continent
29th January 2024 Shannon Estuary
Shannon Foynes Port Company, which operates Ireland's largest bulk-port and the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, have signed an agreement to develop a supply-chain corridor for exporting green hydrogen into Europe. The hydrogen is to be generated from Ireland’s limitless…
Fifth Eco-Trader for Arklow Shipping Launched with Just Two More Newbuilds to Go
29th January 2024 Arklow Shipping
Once again Arklow Shipping has had Dutch shipbuilder, Royal Bodewes launch an Eco-Trader of their 6,800dwt design series, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Resolve with a newbuild no. (NB: 825) at the Hoogezand yard, near Groningen, is were the launch on…
Figures from CSO Show Irish Ports Handled 11.8 Million tonnes of Goods in Q3, 2023 - Decrease of 4% on Last Year
25th January 2024 Irish Ports
Irish Ports handled 11.8 million tonnes of goods in Q3 of 2023, according to Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures - for the period of July, August and September - a 4% decrease compared with same quarter 2022. As RTE News reports, the…
The cruise ship season at the Port of Cork is to have a surge in the number of vessels accommodated this year with a rise by 23% to 116 vessels. Starting in April, the season will run up to November…
Firth of Clyde’s Main Arran Ferry MV Caledonian Isles Out of Action for Extended Period, While Second Ferry Resumes Service Today
24th January 2024 Ferry
The main Isle of Arran ferry which operates the Ardrossan-Brodick route, reveals Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) will be futher delayed until at least March, reports the Ardrossan&SaltcoatsHerald. MV Caledonian Isles which is undergoing annual overhaul at Dales Marine Service, Greenock, as…
