Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
The Government has yet to identify locations for additional Irish Naval Service bases, as work continues on plans to expand the country's maritime defence capabilities. No locations have yet been selected for additional Irish Naval Service bases, despite the Government's…
Howth RNLI has confirmed that construction is underway on its new Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat, which will replace the station's Trent-class Roy Barker III next year after almost 25 years of service. Howth RNLI's new Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat is already under…
Sea Synergy divers have recorded a rare fan mussel during marine biodiversity surveys in the Portmagee Channel, highlighting the importance of continued research into Kerry's protected coastal habitats. A rare fan mussel (Atrina fragilis), one of Europe's largest bivalve molluscs,…
So what’s new? When has the Mediterranean - Mare Nostrum, Our Sea, the salty beating heart of Western civilization - not been ultimately centre stage? For sure, the focus in mid-summer may swing briefly elsewhere, to the Baltic or the…
Summer Weather In South Atlantic Makes for Difficult Golden Globe Racing
16th October 2026 Golden Globe Race
As Autumn begins to bite in Ireland, so the Springtime in the Southern Hemisphere continues to build towards summer, and a high pressure system in the middle of the South Atlantic is resulting in lighter and confusing wind patterns for…
Fourteen countries and more than 160 RS21 sailors will compete in the four-day championship, with European medallists, national champions, and leading Corinthian crews among the contenders. With less than two weeks until racing begins, six teams have been identified as…
A record fleet of 22 maxi yachts will line up for the 2026 Rolex Middle Sea Race in Malta on Saturday, October 17th, with Irish sailors among the crews competing for honours in one of the Mediterranean's leading offshore races.…
Ferry operator Stena Line has carried out a large-scale multi-agency emergency response exercise at its 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead, on Merseyside, serving Dublin and Belfast. The exercise brought together maritime, emergency service, and port partners to test and strengthen…
Stena Line to Acquire CLdN's Somerset Set to Replace Dublin-Birkenhead Freight Twins
16th October 2026 Stena Line
Stena Line has reached an agreement to acquire a ro-ro freight ferry, the Somerset, from CLdN and is to serve on the Dublin Port-Birkenhead (Liverpool) route. Subject to closure and transfer, the vessel would begin operating the central Irish Sea…
Ireland's maritime regulator has refused consent for a proposed 300MW floating solar development in the Shannon Estuary, citing concerns over the applicant's technical and financial capability and the project's alignment with Government marine spatial planning policy. The Maritime Area Regulatory…
The Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) will host its 2026 Dinghy Frostbite Series in Cork Harbour over four racing days in November, with competition open to a range of junior and adult dinghy classes. Racing at Crosshaven is scheduled for…
Almost half of Dublin Port Scholarship recipients were the first in their family to attend third-level education, while nine in ten faced financial barriers to going to college, according to a survey marking the programme's 25th anniversary. The survey of…
The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouses (IALA) has asked the Nautical Institute, the worldwide professional mariners’ organisation, to carry out a new survey of user feedback on how mariners “use and value” AtoN (Aids to Navigation)…
Inland Fisheries Ireland is seeking submissions on oyster dredging in Co Mayo for 2027–2032, with environmental assessments identifying potential disturbance to protected waterbirds. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has opened a public consultation on proposed oyster dredging licences in Blacksod Bay,…
New 'Green Innovation Compass' Launched on European & Inland Port Organisations' Websites
16th October 2026 Ports & Shipping
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) and the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) are pleased to announce the new Green Innovation Compass. The knowledge platform brings together European expertise and practical experience on port innovations is now available through…
Christian Hamilton, Aurélien Pierroz, Oscar Engström and Jeppe Borch secure direct quarter-final places after finishing level on eight wins in Hamilton Harbour. Four skippers finished level on eight wins to qualify directly for the quarter-finals of the 2026 Bermuda Gold…
Manxman Re-Enters Dry Dock Following Returned Repaired Propeller Drive Shafts
16th October 2026 Ferry
The flagship ferry, Manxman, has re-entered dry dock on Merseyside as work to return the Isle of Man Steam Packet's largest vessel to service continues. The 24,161 gross-tonnage flagship writes ManxRadio, has been undergoing repairs at Balaenia Birkenhead since July, when…
Joint Letter Calls on EU Member States Not to Cut Long-Term Transport Budget
16th October 2026 Ports & Shipping
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels for a two-day summit to discuss, among other priorities, the EU’s long-term budget for 2028-2034. In the run-up to the discussions, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), together with Europe’s transport sector, is…
Pat Lawless continues to whittle back Damien Guillou's Golden Globe Race lead as a high-pressure area in the South Atlantic, well east of the River Plate Estuary, serves up adverse easterlies, such that although Guillou's Rustler 36 Solarem is shown…
Denmark's Jeppe Borch and Sweden's Oskar Engström each scored five wins from six matches as the 2026 Bermuda Gold Cup opened in Hamilton Harbour on Wednesday (14 October). The Scandinavian skippers lead the 12-team fleet at the penultimate event of…
