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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. 

An investigation has begun by Wexford County Council into an oil spill off the coastline, which has affected some wildlife. Kildare Wildlife Rescue had received reports of oiled seabirds, predominantly Common Guillemots, in a number of locations yesterday, between Carnsore Point in Co. Wexford and as far north as Dalkey Island off Co. Dublin. Wildlife agencies seek public support in reporting.

Reports of Oiled Seabirds off the Wicklow and Wexford Coasts

3rd May 2024 Marine Wildlife
An investigation by Wexford County Council into reports of "traces of oil" washing up on beaches in the county and neighbouring Wicklow has begun, and it is also looking into possible oil deposits on some marine wildlife along these coasts.…
Ultra-modern expedition cruise ship Seabourn Venture is bound for Killybegs Harbour, Co. Donegal tomorrow, 3 May, which will open the cruise season. The vessel built in 2022 has a design style likewise of the mega-private yachts.

Seabourn Set to Open Killybegs Harbour Cruise Season With Private Yacht-Like Caller

2nd May 2024 Cruise Liners
An ultra-luxury modern expedition cruise ship, the Seabourn Venture, is to call to Killybegs Harbour, Co. Donegal, tomorrow (3 May) marking the start of this year’s season, writes Jehan Ashmore On hand to welcome tourists will be the team from…
The former Fred Olsen Cruise Lines 929 passenger ship, Braemar, is at Harland & Wolff’s Belfast shipyard, where refurbishment has begun. The ship’s departure from Belfast Dry Dock for its inaugural three-and-a-half-year world cruise has been rescheduled to accommodate necessary operational enhancements. The vessel, to be renamed Villa Vie Odyssey, will now depart from Belfast Harbour on May 30.

Harland & Wolff Sign Refurbishment Contract of Braemar with US Based Villa Vie Residences

2nd May 2024 Shipyards
Harland & Wolff has signed a contract with Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US-based cruise brand Villa Vie Residences to carry out at its historic Belfast Dry Dock a refurbishment of the 24,344 gross tonnage cruise ship Braemar, writes Jehan Ashmore. Commenting…
P.S. Waverley, the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, has been announced with the prestigious status of ‘National Flagship of the Year’ by National Historic Ships UK. AFLOAT adds as part of Waverley Excursions extensive season, the historic vessel is to return to Warrenpoint Port, Co. Down, following its inaugural season last year, with an evening cruise on May 28th, sailing down Carlingford Lough and out to Kilkeel Bay. A second cruise linked to the Newry Maritime Association will take place on May 29th, involving an extended cruise down Carlingford Lough and along the coast to Dundrum Bay, giving views of St. John’s Point.

Waverley Awarded ‘National Flagship of the Year’ Is Among NHS-UK 2024 Flagships of the Year

1st May 2024 Historic Boats
Four historic vessels from around the UK have been chosen as this year's Flagships of the Year by National Historic Ships UK, the official voice for historic vessels in the country. The annual Flagship Awards, which have been running since…
Stena Line has appointed Dennis Tetzlaff as the new Chief Operating Officer Fleet

Stena Line Appoints Dennis Tetzlaff As Chief Operating Officer Fleet

1st May 2024 Stena Line
As of today (1 May), Dennis Tetzlaff is Stena Line’s new Chief Operating Officer Fleet, and he joins the group management team. Dennis Tetzlaff enters his new role with a wealth of experience, having worked in various professions within the…
Fingal, a former Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouse/buoy tender built in 1963, is now a double-award-winning floating 5-star luxury hotel! Tripadvisor announced it is the No. 1 luxury hotel and No. 1 small and boutique hotel in the UK. AFLOAT highlights the vessel, while assisting duties in the Irish Sea 30 years ago, made a once-off call to Dun Laoghaire Harbour, the homeport and depot of Irish Lights.

Former Lighthouse Tender in Scotland Named One of the Best Hotels in the World

1st May 2024 Historic Boats
Near the Scottish capital is berthed a historic former lighthouse tender which has been named one of the best hotels in the world at the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. Fingal, which is the name of the luxury floating hotel, is…
During the European Sea Ports Organisation annual Conference in Paris, the organisation launched their ESPO Port Investment Study 2024 results, which is offering a comprehensive analysis of European ports' investment pipeline and challenges.

Europe’s Ports Have €80 Billion Investment Needs for the Next 10 Years - ESPO Study Reveals

30th April 2024 Ports & Shipping
In the framework of its annual conference held in Paris last week, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) launched the results of the ESPO Port Investment Study 2024 (find here). This study offers an extensive analysis of the investment pipeline…
Passengers embark CalMac’s main Arran ferry, Caledonian Isles at Ardrossan, North Ayrshire before sailing for Brodick as seen in this file photo. The ferry Afloat add is in dry-dock, however the Firth of Clyde route is otherwise operated by MV Isle of Arran and chartered MV Alfred but out of Troon.

CalMac and Peel Ports Group in Row on Safety of Ardrossan Harbour after £15.5m Payment

29th April 2024 Ferry
Scottish government owned Caledonian McBrayne (CalMac) has condemned one of the country’s key port operators which it said has left a major ferry port harbour in an "unacceptable" condition. The situation was putting safe operations at risk despite CalMac paying…
Another unfolding chapter as Stena Europe is underway, having departed Falmouth, UK, yesterday bound for Spain. The long-serving Rosslare-Fishguard ferry (above its reception desk as seen last month) is to embark on a new career with Africa Morocco Link (AML), as Afloat previously speculated, operating from Algeciras, which is on the Bay of Algeciras/Gibraltar, facing opposite the UK overseas territory.

Stena Europe Leaves UK Waters to Return to Strait of Gibraltar with Charter to Africa Morocco Link

30th April 2024 Stena Line
Stena Europe, which left the Rosslare-Fishguard route recently, with ropax Stena Nordica resuming service, is to return to the Strait of Gibraltar, where it had been on charter last year, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Stena Europe, built in 1981, after…
ESPO congratulates Gerardo Landaluce (Port of Algeciras), Algis Latakas (Port of Klaipeda), Santiago Garcia-Milà (Port of Barcelona) and the ports of Sevilla, Tenerife, Vigo, Waterford, Pori, Dover, Igoumenitsa and Niedersachsen on receiving the PERS certificate – which demonstrates a commitment to environmental sustainability in the maritime industry.

Port of Waterford Among 11 Ports to Receive PERS Certificate at ESPO Conference in Paris

29th April 2024 Ports & Shipping
The European Sea Ports Organisation congratulates 11 ports with their Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certificates during the annual ESPO Conference in Paris.  The Port of Algeciras (Spain), the Port of Barcelona (Spain), the Port of Klaipeda (Lithuania), the Ports…
Click click click… Arklow Rose this morning was a sight to behold as locals of a shipyard in the Netherlands watched as the smart green hulled newbuild took to the waters with a resultant splash! This is the sixth of seven ships built by Royal Bodewes to their Eco-Trader 6,800 dwt series of dry-bulk cargo ships.

Arklow Rose Takes to the Waters With Splash and Spectacle for Dutch Onlookers

26th April 2024 Arklow Shipping
Despite grey clouds, the sun was out too during the launch of Arklow Rose this morning, which was a spectacle that the locals of a Dutch shipyard clearly enjoyed watching, writes Jehan Ashmore. A blast from the Royal Bodewes shipyard…
European ferry and logistics operator DFDS of Denmark has entered into a partnership with InCat, Tasmania, for a cutting-edge 72m electric-hybrid ferry to be deployed for the Channel Islands if DFDS wins an upcoming tender to service the islands.

DFDS Enters Agreement with Incat for Hybrid-Electric Ro-Pax Design Study for Channel Islands Tender

25th April 2024 Ferry
The operator of the Rosslare-Dunkirk route, DFDS, has entered into an agreement with ferry manufacturer Incat Tasmania to conduct a design study for a hybrid-electric ferry intended to be deployed for the Channel Islands if DFDS wins an upcoming tender…
Stena Line is hosting a Women’s Port Taster Day (9 May) in Belfast Harbour to encourage more women to pursue a career in Port Operations. Women make up just 2% of seafarers and 12% of core roles in ports globally.

Stena Line Encourage Women to Pursue a Career in Maritime with Belfast Harbour Taster Day (9 May)

25th April 2024 Stena Line
Ferry operator Stena Line is reaching out to women in Northern Ireland to attend a taster day at the company’s terminal in Belfast Harbour to encourage them to pursue a career as a Port Service Operative. With women making up…
Harland & Wolff’s CEO, Mr. Wood, said a replacement vessel for the new operator, Scilly Ferries, had become unviable due to conflict in the Middle East. AFLOAT adds that the above fast ferry is the original proposed craft; however, an alternative, Aquabus Jet 1, has been chartered and renamed Atlantic Wolff. The craft departed Spain, and today (24 April), it is off Portugal before it completes a delivery voyage to Portsmouth in the UK.

Harland & Wolff Backed New Ferry Operator for Isles of Scilly Cancels May Start

24th April 2024 Ferry
Scilly Ferries, a division of Harland & Wolff Group, is a new ferry operator that was due to start running in May between the Isles of Scilly and Penzance, Cornwall, but has been delayed. The shipbuilder group announced on Friday that…
Recently serving Rosslare Europort ferries on rival routes to south Wales, Oscar Wilde (Pembroke) and Stena Europe (Fishguard), as seen last month, before both were deployed elsewhere. The ‘Europe’ is currently at A&P Falmouth, Cornwall, after dry-docking, while the Irish Ferries chartered cruise ferry is on the Holyhead-Dublin/Cherbourg route rotation. The French connection is also operated by W.B. Yeats, competing with Stena out of the Wexford port along with Brittany Ferries.

Dublin Swift Heads for West Country Prior to Wales Route Resumption While Stena Europe Awaits Falmouth for Orders?

23rd April 2024 Ferry
Less than a week ago, Afloat tracked Irish Ferries Dublin Swift at Cardiff, however the fast ferry has since sailed from Wales to England, for dry-docking in advance of resuming seasonal service to Holyhead next month, writes Jehan Ashmore. The Cypriot…
In anticipation of the upcoming EU elections, ESPO has outlined its priorities for the next five years. These priorities are crucial in shaping the future of Europe's seaports and maritime landscape. ESPO’s strategic focus for 2024-2029 involve initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable growth, innovation, and resilience in Europe.

Priorities of Europe’s Seaports for 2024-2029 (ESPO) Highlights in Advance of Forthcoming EU Elections

23rd April 2024 Ports & Shipping
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has set out its priorities for the next five years in view of the forthcoming EU elections to be held in May. EPSO represents the port authorities, port associations and port administrations of the seaports of 21…
Masterplan in well in progress with construction at Rosslare Europort, where Stena Vision, one of two ferries serving the Swedish operator’s route connecting Europe through Cherbourg, France. The Irish south-east port which has seen a dramatic surge in Brexit-bypass freight directly to the continent, has a dominant 41% market share of the ro-ro traffic. On a recent visit, Afloat observed the construction of several port infrastructure buildings taking shape at Co. Wexford port estate.

Masterplan Construction Sees Rosslare Europort Transform for a New Era in Connecting Europe

23rd April 2024 Rosslare Europort
Construction work is well underway at Rosslare Europort to develop the south-east port’s masterplan and follows the massive surge in Brexit bypass freight trade traffic to and from the continent, writes Jehan Ashmore. Each week the strategically located south-east port,…
Ireland’s first new Marine National Park (Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara) of 70,000 acres on the Corca Dhuibhne peninsula in west Kerry has been welcomed by Irish Lights with its inclusion of the Inishtearaght and Skellig Michael lighthouses.

Ireland's First Marine National Park - Irish Lights Welcomes Inclusion of Inishtearaght & Skellig Michael Lighthouses

22nd April 2024 Lighthouses
Ireland’s inaugural Marine National Park, Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara,Ciarraí, has been unveiled today and Irish Lights is delighted to announce the inclusion of Inishtearaght and Skellig Michael lighthouses, which have been in operation since the early 1800’s. The significant announcement…
In north-west England, the Peel Ports Group, which includes Liverpool, has implemented hydropower to supply energy to its Queen Elizabeth II Dock at Eastham on the Manchester Ship Canal. The move has seen a twin Archimedean screw generator installed at the dock, which will generate enough power a year to fuel 190,000 homes for one day. AFLOAT adds that above is the floating ship crane Lara 1, which carried out work at Dublin Port last year, as previously reported, when installing oil-jetty-related infrastructure

Peel Ports Introduce Hydropower at Eastham Dock in Its Drive to Bring Net-Zero Ambitions Forward

22nd April 2024 Ports & Shipping
The UK's second largest port operator, Peel Ports Group, has today announced its Queen Elizabeth II Dock at Eastham, England, will utilise energy from hydropower. It’s the latest move to drive forward Peel Ports’ ambition to become net-zero across its…
One of the Naval Service's larger ships, possibly the OPV80 P50 class LÉ Niamh, could be back on patrol duties within the next few weeks. Afloat understands the LE Niamh (P52) has been in refit for more than a year, with the vessel berthed alongside Cork Dockyard.

Naval Service Could See Two More Patrol Vessels Back Operating Within Weeks

22nd April 2024 Naval Visits
Since the start of the year, the Naval Service, which was only able to have in operation a single patrol ship within Irish waters, could have two more vessels made available within a matter of weeks. Due to a combination…
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