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Displaying items by tag: Shannon Foynes Port Compnay

#SHANNON PORTS- A draft masterplan Vision 2041, to develop port infrastructure and services for the Shannon Estuary over the next three decades, has been published by Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC).

The masterplan for Ireland's second largest port which has six terminals along the 500sq km navigable estuary, has specifically targeted growth and expansion options. Also identified are capacity and associated port infrastructure requirements, where SFPC has called for improved road and rail access.

In addition the masterplan is to take into consideration of non-core assets facilities at Foynes Port and Limerick Docks which consists of the single (Ted Russell) Dock basin.

Vision 2041 recognises the strategic need of the estuary to be in position to ensure future capability in handling larger trade volumes efficiently and competitively when the opportunities arise.

The masterplan has concentrated in identifying three key major objectives:

Significant expansion and infrastructural development in the deepwater Port of Foynes

Promoting non-core assets in Limerick Docks for alternative port / non port related activities

Managing the natural attributes of the estuary and its destination as an Ocean Energy Hub

The objectives of Vision 2041 are to realise the economic potential of the natural resource along the Shannon Estuary and developing positive promotion of the ports as a strategic economic driver for the Mid-West Region.

Copies of the SFPC Vision 2014 masterplan can be downloaded from clicking this LINK or alternatively a digital copy can be requested by contacting the Masterplan Team at 069 73100. The deadline for written submissions concerning the draft Masterplan is up to and incl. 1st February, see website for postal address and email details.

Published in Shannon Estuary
A masterplan for Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC), the state's second largest port operation, is to look into the marine infrastructural requirements for the next three decades along the 500 sq km Shannon Estuary, writes Jehan Ashmore.
SFPC's Masterplan Achieving the Vision 2041 will be a public consultation process and with the participation of port's stakeholders and interested parties. The masterplan aims to capitalise on the significant growth potential and focus promoting the port as a strategic economic driver for the mid-west region.

Port expansion options are to be examined so to prepare ports for larger trade volumes when the opportunities arise. Also under consideration are the non-core assets at the Port of Foynes and Limerick Docks. To read more about the masterplan and the challenges and issues that has been identified in both ports click HERE.

The statutory jurisdiction of the estuary is under the control of SFPC, which is responsible for the estuary that runs from the mouth entrance marked by Kerry and Loop Heads and stretching far inland to Limerick City. The natural waterway can handle vessels of up to 200,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt) which are the largest ships that can dock in Irish waters.

Published in Shannon Estuary

Irish Sailing Classes and Association – There’s no shortage of one-design classes from which to choose and each gives its enthusiasts great competition, fun and camaraderie, writes Graham Smith in this review of the classes. 

One-design racing is where it all starts. It is, after all, where all the top sailors earned their stripes, battling away for line honours without a thought for a handicapper’s calculator wiping away a hard-fought victory!

Indeed, you could count on less than one hand the number of top Irish sailors who didn’t cut their teeth in a one-design dinghy! Just think of Cudmore, Barrington, Watson, Wilkins, Hennessy and Dix to name a few and you realise that they honed their skills in everything from Enterprises to Lasers and a lot in between.

At present count, there are a little over 30 one-design classes in Ireland, split almost evenly between dinghies and keelboats, a statistic which might raise a few eyebrows. They range from the long-established Mermaids, IDRA14s and Dragons to the newer additions like Fevas, Topaz and RS Elite. They all fill a particular need and give their owners and crews considerable enjoyment.

Many have attracted their World or European Championships to Irish waters over the years and while 2009 is notable for a lack of such events here, the following year will see the Etchells Worlds at Howth and perhaps a few other international regattas too.

In addition to the review, we asked each class to complete a questionnaire giving details of their fleet numbers, whether they were on a growth pattern or holding their own, so we could highlight those ‘on the up’ and those remaining static in terms of numbers. The older traditional designs, as you might imagine, fall into the latter category, although that’s not a negative!

CLASS REVIEW  The State of the Classes – League Table (as at February 2009)

S = Static; U = Up/growing

275     Optimist   U

200+   Laser   S

189     Mermaid   S

160     Flying Fifteen   S

130     RS Feva   U

115     Shannon One Design    U

100+   Mirror   S

100+   Topper   U

99       Topaz   U

94       Laser SB3   U

87       GP14   U

85       Squib   S

70       Fireball   S

70       Ruffian   S

60       J24   S

60       Shipman   S

52       Dragon   S

50       RS400/200   S

50       420    U

43       Multihulls    U

42       Dragon    S

40       Water Wags    U

40       Wayfarer    S

34       IDRA14    U

33       Puppeteer    U

28       Etchells    S

27       E-Boat    U

26       Glen    S

25       Enterprise    S

18       Sigma 33    S

18       Howth 17    U

13       RS Elite    U