Irish Port and Shipping News

European Parliament Votes in Favour of European Port Strategy

19th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

The European Parliament has urged the European Commission to present a European port strategy by the end of 2024. A report approved today by the parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg highlights the risk of economic dependence, espionage and sabotage, while…

Growing concerns of instability on Red Sea commercial shipping could affect Irish supply chains for months as close to 20% of global trade transits through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Shipping in the Red Sea Sees Irish Exporters Advised to Engage with Freight Carriers

18th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

Disruption to shipping in the Red Sea has led to Irish export businesses being advised to engage with their freight carriers and look at their supply chains as the situation in the Middle East region continues. Due to attacks by…

Red Sea: European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) fully supports the safety concerns of shipping lines, emphasising the need to protect crews and vessels. The situation raises substantial worries for Europe's ports, causing disruptions in the supply chain and jeopardising just-in-time deliveries to certain industries. The attacks are disrupting traffic through the Suez Canal, a crucial waterway and the fastest shipping route between Asia and Europe, which has led to re-routing, adding 3,000-3,500 nautical miles, extending the voyage by 8 to 15 days, depending on the shipping segment.

Europe's Ports Express Concern on Impacts of Escalating Conflict in the Red Sea

18th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

After the serious attacks on ships, mainly, but not only container ships, in the Red Sea by the Houthi movement, has led to shipping lines in deciding to redirect their ships around the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. The…

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has highly welcomed the EU Parliament’s recognition of and support for the strategic and vital role that Europe’s ports play for European society and economy. In a vote took on the Berendsen report, this was adopted with 585 in favour, 21 against and 26 abstentions.

ESPO Welcomes EU Parliament’s Recognition of Support for Strategic & Comprehensive Role of Europe’s Ports

18th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

The European Parliament officially adopted the Berendsen report, an own-initiative report on “building a comprehensive European Port Strategy” following yesterday's vote: (585 in favour, 21 against and 26 abstentions). In response, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) highly welcomes the…

In this scene is the public viewing spectacle at the launch of Arklow Ranger at a Dutch shipyard last year, to today’s completion of a maiden voyage by the 6,800dwat cargo ship to the Norwegian port at Glomfjord which is within the Arctic Circle.

Arklow Ranger Makes Maiden Voyage Across North Sea to Norwegian Fjord Port Within the Arctic Circle

16th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

The newest Irish flagged merchant ship, Arklow Ranger has made its maiden voyage from The Netherlands to Norway as the newbuild dry-cargo ship arrived this afternoon into the Arctic Circle, writes Jehan Ashmore. Arklow Ranger departed the Dutch north-east port…

Alpha Marine’s newly acquired multicat AMS Retriever, built by Damen Shipyard to their 2309 series is pictured recently in Rotterdam. The addition, AFLOAT adds follows that of a tug/workboat of the same name which is no longer part of the Wicklow based fleet.

Wicklow Based Alpha Marine Acquire A Damen Shipyard Built Multicat

16th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

Wicklow Port based multi-disciplinary marine company, Alpha Marine has acquired a Damen Shipyard built multi-cat of their 2309 design, which had been operating in the Netherlands. The purchase of the multicat from Purus HST of Swansea, Wales, was concluded in mid-December…

WEC Lines B.V. has introduced a new direct service between the Port of Liverpool and Agadir, Morocco (via Spain, Portugal & Canaries), so to improve importing fresh produce to the UK, notably tomatoes from the north African nation. Afloat highlights that only last year, WEC based in Rotterdam, celebrated its fifth decade, trading short-sea and deep-sea. Above WEC’s Van Eyk at the Portuguese port of Leixões which is part of the UK-Iberian-Africa liner service.

Liverpool Sees New Morocco, Africa Service as WEC Lines Add Call Boosting Trade in Tomatoes to UK

14th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

Shipping operator, WEC Lines this month is introducing a new direct service between Liverpool and Agadir in Morocco, offering a fast and green alternative for fresh produce importers when compared to overland trucking. According to the Port of Liverpool, the…

Last year the Port of Galway handled 500,259 tonnes of cargo, a notably highlight was a strong boost in growth from ships transporting inbound components to complete onshore based wind projects. Above ships offshore of the port where AFLOAT adds, the next scheduled arrival with wind-turbine components is 26 January, on board Wilson Rotterdam, operated by Norwegian ship-owner, Wilson AS of Bergen.

Port of Galway Hits Turnover of €6m as Benefits of Wind Projects Blow Ashore

14th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

Turnover rose to almost €6m last year at the Port of Galway, following strong growth in shipping operations linked to transporting inbound components used for onshore based wind projects. The revenue generated by the port, recently awarded European TEN-T status,…

World’s largest container carrier, Maersk has told Reuters, that it hopes the threat level can be lowered following co-ordinated action in the Red Sea.

World’s Largest Container Operator Hopes for Better Times Amid Red Sea Houthi Airstrikes

12th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

Global container line, AP Moller-Maersk hopes the presence of naval forces in the Red Sea in addition to political action will allow vessels to resume transiting the Middle East waterway, a major international link between the Indian subcontinent, Asia and…

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has welcomed the EU Parliament and Council in reaching an agreement on TEN-T network, as the role of ports’ will now be assessed not only on the basis of tonnage, but also on its contribution to the energy transition.

Europe’s Ports Welcome EU Agreement on TEN-T Regulation On Inclusion of Energy Ports

12th January 2024 Ports & Shipping

The EU Parliament and Council on 18 December reached a deal on the review of the TEN-T Regulation, setting the requirements for all transport nodes and modes being part of the TEN-T network. The new Regulation revises the original Regulation…

Marine Notice: International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments

31st December 2023 Ports & Shipping

The final Marine Notice of 2023 draws attention to and provides information regarding the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention). These 2023 regulations give effect to the Convention in Ireland and…

Container giant Maersk had diverted 26 of its own ships around the Cape of Good Hope in the last 10 days or so, while only 5 more were scheduled to start the same journey according to detailed breakdown by Reuters.

Container Giant Maersk to Send Almost all Ships via Suez Canal as Schedule Shows

28th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

Container shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk has diverted 26 of its own vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in the last 10 days or so, while only 5 more were scheduled to start the same journey according to detailed breakdown…

A container ship docked at an Irish port

MSO Seeks Applications for Authorisation to Act as Recognised Security Organisations (Ports)

26th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

The Marine Survey Office (MSO) of the Department of Transport is seeking applications from interested parties who wish to act as Recognised Security Organisations - RSO (Ports) for the period from January 2024 to 31 December 2028. The authorisation will…

The newly built survey support vessel, the Mainport Edge, for c.€16m

€16m 'Mainport Edge' Survey Support Vessel Purchase as MML invests in Mainport Shipping Alongside Irish Mainport Holdings

20th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

Irish Mainport Holdings Limited (“IMH”) today announced that it has agreed a multi-million euro equity investment from MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland Limited (“MML”) into Mainport Shipping Limited. Mainport Shipping is an integrated marine services business that charters survey support…

A new design for a zero emission English Channel container vessel featuring wind blades has released by Belgium's Zulu Associates. The ground-breaking 200 TEU capacity autonomous short sea container vessel is to be operated by Anglo Belgian Shipping Company.

New Design for Zero-Emission English Channel Operating Autonomous Container Vessel to Feature Wind Blades

15th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

A Belgian maritime innovator, Zulu Associates is revealing the latest concept design of its groundbreaking 200 TEU autonomous short sea container vessel, the Zulu Mass. The design for the Zulu Mass is to feature an auxiliary wind assistance system as…

In the latest ERSI quarterly report, there was a decline in Irish exports, notably in the pharmaceutical sector, which will result in the nation’s GDP shrinking by 2.7% this year. On the domestic front, the ERSI expect demand is to rise by just 0.6% this year, with GDP to shrink by 2.7%. Above container ship MSC Nikoleta which AFLOAT highlights of its arrival to the Port of Cork with a maiden call on 2nd March, as seen the next day at the Cork Container Terminal (CTT), Ringaskiddy.

Quarterly Report from ESRI As It Cuts Domestic Growth Forecast Again as Irish Households & Businesses Tighten Belts

14th December 2023 Ports & Shipping

In its latest quarterly outlook report, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which provides evidence-based research to inform public policy debate and decision-making, has cut its domestic economic growth forecasts for a third time this year. As The Irish…