Irish Ports

Harland & Wolff, the Belfast based shipyard group, chooses not to increase its bid to buy Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, which operates Scillonian III to the archipelago off Cornwall on a seasonal basis along with a year-round freight run between Penzance-St. Mary’s, Scilly. The Scillonian III was built in 1977 in neighbouring Devon, at Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd. In recent years AFLOAT adds, the yard was acquired by the Harland & Wolff Group.

Harland & Wolff Group Opts Not to Pursue Bid for Isles of Scilly Ferry

22nd December 2023 Shipyards

Shipyard firm Harland & Wolff based in Belfast has decided not to make a formal bid to buy the passenger ferry and freight-company, which operates to the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall. In an initial approach by H&W to acquire…

Sligo Port has often been seen in the past as having a precarious future, however there were many positives that emerged about the north-west port, during Sligo County Council’s recent monthly meeting. Above is a short-sea cargo ship Scot Trader, which AFLOAT adds, has been replaced by a successor of the same name, which also primarily trades in forest/timber products.

Port of Sligo Where Initiatives Are Underway to Create More Business

15th December 2023 Irish Ports

In the north-west at Sligo Port, is where the facility could possibly see an increase in shipping activities to take place in the coming years. The potential for increased traffic at the port, Sligo Champion reports is on foot of…

With shipyards in Belfast, Arnish in Scotland and Appledore, England, the Harland & Wolff Group this week reached the milestone of 1,000 employees that includes delivery centres and commercial sites.

Shipbuilder Harland & Wolff Group Reaches Milestone of 1,000th Employee

14th December 2023 Shipyards

With its largest shipyard based in Belfast, the Harland & Wolff Group has announced that it has reached 1,000 employees across the company's facilities on both sides of the Irish Sea. The international shipbuilding and marine engineering business continues to actively…

The new Mersey ferry, according to Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram has confirmed that the new vessel would solely be built on Merseyside. This is to take place at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead and will be the first new ferry in 60 years, and as the Liverpool Echo reports is to cost in the region of £26m with a delivery due in 2025.

New Mersey Ferry to Be Built Locally at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead Will be the First in 60 Years

13th December 2023 Shipyards

The shipyard which built the UK's polar research ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough, Cammell Laird is to construct the first new Mersey ferry in 60 years, in a move which marks a major milestone for the shipbuilder. Located at Birkenhead…

Shipyard visit, as the UK Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP is seen at Harland & Wolff, Belfast, on the day same that the Labour Party announced a commitment to build all government vessels across shipyards in the UK, should they be elected into an administration.

UK Shadow Secretary Visits Harland & Wolff As Labour Party Announce Government Ships to Be Built Across UK If Elected

13th December 2023 Shipyards

A visit to Harland & Wolff Group’s Belfast shipyard took place recently by the UK Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP. The visit according to Harland & Wolff came on the same day that the Shadow…

Rosslare Europort - the Design Contract has been awarded for the Offshore Renewable Energy Hub at the County Wexford port

Rosslare Europort Applies for Marine Area Consent, as Design Contract awarded for Offshore Renewable Energy Hub

11th December 2023 Rosslare Europort

Rosslare Europort has announced two major milestones in the Co Wexford port’s progress towards becoming Ireland’s 'Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub'. The Port Authority Iarnród Éireann today formally applied to the new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) for Marine Area…

Aasen Shipping orders three new hybrid powered methanol-ready self-dischargers/cargo ships from Dutch shipbuilder, Royal Bodewes. The Norwegian shipping company operate self-discharging ships for transporting bulk cargo and break bulk cargo among them to Irish Ports. Loading/discharging, is carried out by the ship’s crew using an excavator mounted above the hold. Among their existing tonnage, AFLOAT add is Aastind which at time of writing, today, is at anchor in Dublin Bay having sailed from Rotterdam (Botlek), The Netherlands. Another fleetmate, Aasli last month made a brief call to Belfast having received work at Harland & Wolff.

Newbuild Order from Aasen Shipping for Three Hybrid Powered Methanol-Ready Self-Discharging Cargo Ships

6th December 2023 Shipyards

Aasen Shipping of Norway which has a fleet of self-discharging cargo ships which call to Irish Ports, has ordered from a Dutch shipyard for three new hybrid powered methanol-ready self-dischargers. Delivery of the vessels from shipbuilder, Royal Bodewes to Assen…

A graphic depicting a future vision of Rosslare Europort: Ireland’s Gateway to Europe and Offshore Renewable Energy Hub

Metocean Survey and Static Acoustic Monitoring for Rosslare Europort Offshore Wind Hub

4th December 2023 Rosslare Europort

The Department of Transport has been advised that Iarnród Éireann intends to undertake a metocean survey and static acoustic monitoring in the proposed offshore renewable energy hub development area surrounding the existing Rosslare Europort, off the coast of Co Wexford.…

An approach from the Belfast based shipyard group, Harland & Wolff to the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG) have been ‘unequivocally’ rebuffed. In recent years, H&W acquired Devon’s Appledore shipyard, which AFLOAT adds in 1977 built Scillonian III, which has served for 46 years is to be replaced by a newbuild constructed overseas. The passenger seasonal service ended recently, however the ISSG also operate a year-round ‘Skybus’ airplane service to the archipelago.

Shipbuilder Harland and Wolff Bid for Isles of Scilly Ferry Operator Rejected

26th November 2023 Shipyards

The south-west England operator running between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has “unequivocally rejected” a takeover bid from the Belfast based shipbuilder Harland and Wolff (H&W), reports Business Live. Bosses at the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG), which…

Cargo vessel docked at the Shannon Estuary port facility of Shannon Foynes Port Company

Job Opportunity at Shannon Foynes Port for Business Development Executive

25th November 2023 Jobs

Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) is currently recruiting for the position of Business Development Executive. Shannon Foynes is Ireland’s second largest port operation, currently handling in excess of 11 million tonnes per annum. The Shannon Estuary is Ireland’s main deep-water…

A shipyard on Merseyside is where workers at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, have voted to strike in a row over pay and conditions.

Merseyside Shipyard Workers at Cammell Laird Vote to Strike

21st November 2023 Shipyards

Workers at a Merseyside shipyard which built the UK polar research ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough, have voted to strike in a row over pay and conditions. Electricians, pipe-fitters and welders and others at Cammell Laird shipyard on Birkenhead, are…

$Twin newbuild ferries being built for CalMac’s Arran route on the Forth of Clyde could be worth only a ‘fraction’ of what Scottish taxpayers have spent on their construction, Holyrood was told.$

Twin Newbuild Ferries in Scotland Could be Worth ‘Fraction’ of Cost when Completed, MSPs Told

18th November 2023 Shipyards

Twin newbuild ferries that are delayed and overbudget at a shipyard in Scotland and which are to serve Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) could be worth a “fraction” of the £360m taxpayers have spent on them when they are finally completed, MSPs have…

Shipbuilders at Sydney, Australia as H&W Group’s chief executive John Wood, Austal chief Paddy Gregg, chief operating officer Ian McMillan and H&W chief sales officer Oliver Morton attend the 2023 Indo Pacific Maritime Exposition which was held in the coastal city. AFLOAT adds with a display model of Austal’s evolved 58m Lethal Cape Class Patrol boat.

Harland & Wolff Enters Partnership with Austal, Australia to Boost Shipbuilding Business

16th November 2023 Shipyards

Shipbuilder, the Harland & Wolff Group has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Austal, an Australian firm, to aid their pursuit of aluminium shipbuilding opportunities. In Sydney the MOU was signed at the 2023 Indo Pacific Maritime Exposition. The…

Thun Resource, leadship of the ‘R-class tankers was launched in Leer last Friday at Ferus Smit’s German shipyard for Swedish-lake based owners, Thun Tankers, which call to Dublin Port almost daily, among them Thun Lidköping (today, anchored in Dublin Bay). The town of Lidköping is located on Lake Vänern which is connected to the sea by shipping canals to the Skaggerak.

Swedish Lake-Based Tanker Owner Which Frequently Call to Dublin Port, Have ‘Resourceful’ Leadship Launched in Leer, Germany

15th November 2023 Shipyards

A newbuild class for a Swedish lake-based shipping operator was launched at Ferus Smit’s shipyard in Leer, Germany, as leadship Thun Resource entered the water last Friday, writes Jehan Ashmore. At the morning launch of Thun Resource, the newbuild became…

Harland & Wolff secure contract for an extended barge-building programme for London based Cory Group, operating waste-management services on the Thames. Above, earlier this year when the first barge of an original batch was completed, becoming the Belfast shipyard’s first vessel in 20 years.

Shipyards at Harland & Wolff Belfast and in Scotland Secure £8.5m Contract for Additional Barges

7th November 2023 Shipyards

Shipyard firm, Harland and Wolff Group has announced a new contract from a London based waste management operator, worth £8.5m to build an additional 10 new barges for duties on the River Thames. The company which also has a fleet…

Pilot boat crew at Cappa Pier brave the elements for swift water training with Paul McNally

Irish Port Authorities Hail Successful Port Safety Week

3rd November 2023 Ports & Shipping

During the last week of October, Irish port authorities joined forces to promote Port Safety Week, hosting events throughout the week covering health and wellbeing, safety, PPE, AED and CPR training and more. From 23-27 October, the port authorities of…