Displaying items by tag: Ready Duty Ships

8th March 2017

Visit of Belgium Navy Vessel Follows Ferry Commemoration off Zeebrugge

On board the Belgium Navy's BNS Castor, British Ambassador to Belgium Alison Rose who laid a wreath at the location of where the ferry disaster took place off Zeebrugge in 1987

#BelgiumNavy - A Belgium Navy ship is visiting Dublin Port, however the call to the capital follows a solemn occasion held on board to mark a ferry disaster that took place off Zeebrugge three decades ago.

On Monday the BNS Castor departed the naval base in Zeebrugge to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster outside the North Sea port.

On board the naval vessel was the British Ambassador to Belgium, Alison Rose who laid a wreath along with Belgium officials. The ceremony part of those held also on land, was to remember the 193 passengers who died when the Herald of Free Enterprise in 1987 capsized near the coast of Zeebrugge. The day also reflected on the Belgians who helped to save many lives.

The naval visit of BNS Castor to Dublin Port sees the 2014 built Ready Duty Ship (RDS) arrive with a 15 member crew. Among the roles they have are search and rescue (SAR) and surveillance operations undertaken by the vessel in the European Economic Zone (EEZ).

Presenting a sleek profile on the Liffey was the 53m BNS Castor that was escorted by the tug Shackleton and pilot cutter Dodder. This involved the naval ship take a berth close to the city-centre along Sir John Rogersons Quay at berth No. 8. This berth is typically allocated to such foreign naval vessels, tallships and small cruiseships.

Published in Naval Visits

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Shannon Foynes Port Information

Shannon Foynes Port (SFPC) are investing in an unprecedented expansion at its general cargo terminal, Foynes, adding over two-thirds the size of its existing area. In the latest phase of a €64 million investment programme, SFPC is investing over €20 million in enabling works alone to convert 83 acres on the east side of the existing port into a landbank for marine-related industry, port-centric logistics and associated infrastructure. The project, which will be developed on a phased basis over the next five years, will require the biggest infrastructure works programme ever undertaken at the port, with the entire 83 acre landbank having to be raised by 4.4 metres. The programme will also require the provision of new internal roads and multiple bridge access as well as roundabout access.