Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Dublin Bay Boating News and Information

Dublin Based Ship Management Company's Ice-Class Cargoship At Anchor on Capital's Doorstep

30th December 2020
Dublin based ship management company, Corrib Shipping, has one of its fleet in homewaters as MV Jolyn is currently at anchor in Dubin Bay. Above: an amidships close up of the company's associated clients, Royal Wagenborg with one of their dry cargo carrier's. Take note of a swan in flight while above calm waters. Dublin based ship management company, Corrib Shipping, has one of its fleet in homewaters as MV Jolyn is currently at anchor in Dubin Bay. Above: an amidships close up of the company's associated clients, Royal Wagenborg with one of their dry cargo carrier's. Take note of a swan in flight while above calm waters. Credit: Royal Wagenborg-facebook

A Dublin based ship management company's ice-strengthened multipurpose dry-cargo carrier was spotted at anchor in Dublin Bay today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Such operators in Ireland are few and far between in regards to merchant shipping. The company concerned is the Corrib Shipping Group based in the south Co. Dublin suburb of Dundrum. The cargoship is due to enter Dublin Port on New Year's Day and berth at Ocean Pier. 

Afloat also noted that the group was founded in 1995 and before this year finally draws to a close, such an occasion cannot be ignored given the company milestone of a 25th anniversary.

Since its inception Corrib has assembled a ship management team and employs professional officers and crew to man its vessels.Their fleet of ice-strenghthened ships sail as part of the Royal Wagenborg fleet and Wagenborg act as chartering agents for Corrib.

MV Jolyn had departed Cork Harbour yesterday and arrived in Dublin Bay this morning. The short-sea multipurpose dry cargo carrier has an Ice Class 1A and was built by the Shipyard Peters in Kampen in the Netherlands.

The 2007 built Dutch-flagged trader has a 3,640dwt and the following main dimensions where length overall (LOA) is 89.99m on a beam of of 12.5m and a draught drawing 5.31m.

As for propulsion the main engine is a Finnish manufactured Wartsila 9L20.

In addition Corrib's fleet includes a pair of identical ships, Cathy Jo and Cathma, again they too are of the same vessel type as applied to Jolyn along with an Ice Class 1A, but these vessels are larger. They are of 6,000dwt and measure 100.78 (LOA), a beam of 14m and a draught of 5.09m. Cathy Jo is currently in Palmones, Spain (close to Gibraltar) having departed Dordrecht from where relatively nearby in Amsterdam is Cathma which is for bound next for Hamina in Finland (see below the Ziltborg in a frozen Baltic).

Unlike the Jolyn, the pair were built in neighbouring Germany at the Ferus Smit shipyard in Leer, however their Dutch yard in Westerbroek is where 'A' class newbuilds, each of 8,500dwt is on order to Arklow Shipping. Less than a fortnight ago week, Afloat reported about Arklow Arrow, the fifth of six such ships so far was launched.

Another final member of the Corrib fleet, the former Viechtdiep in 2017 was added into a then four-strong fleet as the renamed Ziltborg, the largest fleetmember at 7,200dwt which too has an ice-class notation of 1A.

The owners of the 118 metre vessel are Royal Wagenborg which itself has a considerable fleet numbering 180 box-shaped ice-strenghtened vessels varying between 1,700 to 23,000 tonnes and all under the Dutch flag.

Ziltborg had entered service to offer clients worldwide trade carrying options such as forest products and (break-)bulk cargoes.

Published in Dublin Bay
Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

Email The Author

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. 

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

Direct Donation to Afloat button

Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay on the east coast of Ireland stretches over seven kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine.

The biggest boating centre is at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the Bay's south shore that is home to over 1,500 pleasure craft, four waterfront yacht clubs and Ireland's largest marina.

The bay is rather shallow with many sandbanks and rocky outcrops, and was notorious in the past for shipwrecks, especially when the wind was from the east. Until modern times, many ships and their passengers were lost along the treacherous coastline from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, less than a kilometre from shore.

The Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea and is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south. North Bull Island is situated in the northwest part of the bay, where one of two major inshore sandbanks lie, and features a 5 km long sandy beach, Dollymount Strand, fronting an internationally recognised wildfowl reserve. Many of the rivers of Dublin reach the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay: the River Liffey, with the River Dodder flow received less than 1 km inland, River Tolka, and various smaller rivers and streams.

Dublin Bay FAQs

There are approximately ten beaches and bathing spots around Dublin Bay: Dollymount Strand; Forty Foot Bathing Place; Half Moon bathing spot; Merrion Strand; Bull Wall; Sandycove Beach; Sandymount Strand; Seapoint; Shelley Banks; Sutton, Burrow Beach

There are slipways on the north side of Dublin Bay at Clontarf, Sutton and on the southside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and in Dalkey at Coliemore and Bulloch Harbours.

Dublin Bay is administered by a number of Government Departments, three local authorities and several statutory agencies. Dublin Port Company is in charge of navigation on the Bay.

Dublin Bay is approximately 70 sq kilometres or 7,000 hectares. The Bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and seven km in length east-west to its peak at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the southside of the Bay has an East and West Pier, each one kilometre long; this is one of the largest human-made harbours in the world. There also piers or walls at the entrance to the River Liffey at Dublin city known as the Great North and South Walls. Other harbours on the Bay include Bulloch Harbour and Coliemore Harbours both at Dalkey.

There are two marinas on Dublin Bay. Ireland's largest marina with over 800 berths is on the southern shore at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The other is at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on the River Liffey close to Dublin City.

Car and passenger Ferries operate from Dublin Port to the UK, Isle of Man and France. A passenger ferry operates from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth as well as providing tourist voyages around the bay.

Dublin Bay has two Islands. Bull Island at Clontarf and Dalkey Island on the southern shore of the Bay.

The River Liffey flows through Dublin city and into the Bay. Its tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

Approximately 1,500 boats from small dinghies to motorboats to ocean-going yachts. The vast majority, over 1,000, are moored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour which is Ireland's boating capital.

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the importance of Dublin Bay by designating North Bull Island as a Biosphere because of its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife. To support sustainable development, UNESCO’s concept of a Biosphere has evolved to include not just areas of ecological value but also the areas around them and the communities that live and work within these areas. There have since been additional international and national designations, covering much of Dublin Bay, to ensure the protection of its water quality and biodiversity. To fulfil these broader management aims for the ecosystem, the Biosphere was expanded in 2015. The Biosphere now covers Dublin Bay, reflecting its significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance, and extends to over 300km² to include the bay, the shore and nearby residential areas.

On the Southside at Dun Laoghaire, there is the National Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as Dublin Bay Sailing Club. In the city centre, there is Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. On the Northside of Dublin, there is Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and Sutton Dinghy Club. While not on Dublin Bay, Howth Yacht Club is the major north Dublin Sailing centre.

© Afloat 2020