Afloat – Ireland's Sailing and Boating Magazine
Funding for £15m Zero Emission Trials for Belfast Harbour is Secured
21st October 2026 Belfast Lough
Trials of zero-emission transport and energy systems are to take place at Belfast Harbour under a £15 million ($19.9 million) investment that was announced on 15 October. Belfast-based Artemis Technologies is leading the Zero Emissions Transport and Energy Cluster (ZETEC)…
Wicklow-based Mills Design is preparing to launch a new 40-foot racing yacht aimed at the Admiral's Cup, with sailing trials scheduled for January. A new 40-foot Admiral's Cup racing yacht designed by Wicklow-based naval architect Mark Mills is nearing completion…
First Barge With Structures for New Narrow Water Bridge Berths at Warrenpoint Harbour
21st October 2026 Northern Ireland Waters
A major milestone in the construction of the Narrow Water Bridge in Northern Ireland took place today, with the arrival to Warrenpoint Harbour of the first barge carrying major steel components from Belgium. The bridge contractor BAM UK & Ireland…
More than 110 young sailors have registered for the Irish Optimist Dinghy Association (IODAI) National Training Week at Lough Ree Yacht Club from Wednesday, 28 October, to Saturday, 31 October. The four-day event, one of the association's biggest National Training…
Irish MEP Nina Carberry has called for fairer fishing quotas, protection of the Hague Preferences, and reform of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) ahead of the Fisheries Council negotiations in December. Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Carberry…
Exhibition at DLR LexIcon: Celebrates 10,000 Years of Greek & Irish Maritime Tradition
21st October 2026 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
A new exhibition, "10,000 Years of Greek and Irish Maritime Tradition," has been launched in dlr LexIcon Library in Dún Laoghaire, which explores the rich maritime heritage of two nations shaped by the sea. Hosting the exhibition is Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown…
Seaweed Harvesting and Licensing Report To Be Published By Oireachtas Committee
21st October 2026 Seaweed
The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs will publish its report on seaweed harvesting and licensing on Thursday (22 October) at 10am in Leinster House. Earlier this year, the committee began a series of hearings on the issue, following…
Decommissioned Dutch Navy Submarine that Visited Irish Ports Towed for Dismantling
21st October 2026 News Update
A Dutch tug has taken part in a special towage operation of the decommissioned submarine ‘Walrus’ class namesake from the Royal Netherlands Naval Base in Den Helder to Amsterdam for dismantling, writes Jehan Ashmore. The tug Ems Warrior, operated by…
The Irish Ocean Literacy Network’s (IOLN) latest community dialogue takes place in Tramore, Co. Waterford, this week, themed “marine identity- tides of change”. Coastwatch co-ordinator Karin Dubsky will deliver the keynote address at the event, which IOLN is hosting with…
Route du Rhum: Armel Le Cléac’h Ready for Solo Atlantic Challenge
21st October 2026 La Route du Rhum Race
Maxi Banque Populaire XI has arrived in Saint-Malo ahead of the 1 November solo transatlantic start, with Ireland’s Pamela Lee preparing for a potentially historic Class40 debut French offshore sailor Armel Le Cléac’h has brought Maxi Banque Populaire XI into…
A proposed subsea telecommunications cable linking Galway with Portugal, Spain and France has taken a further regulatory step, with an application lodged with the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) for consent to install and operate the system. PISCES Cable System…
Founded in 1986, the Killybegs-based company employs more than 90 people and supplies marine handling and aquaculture equipment to customers across Europe and North America. SeaQuest specialises in designing and manufacturing fish pumping systems, hydraulic equipment, cranes and other marine…
Italy's Django 7X won a closely fought battle with Balthasar in IRC 1 at the 2026 Middle Sea Race, while France's Daguet 5 emerged as the provisional leader in IRC 2. As reported by Afloat, the results follow Black Jack 100's line honours…
Ronan Kenneally leads Class 1 of Monkstown Bay Sailing Club's October League after three races, sailing his Laser 7 to third, second and first places for a total of six points. Ewen Barry and Sandy Rimmington are second in their…
British skipper Christian Hamilton and Khumbu Racing overturned a 2–1 deficit against World No. 1 Chris Poole to win the 2026 Bermuda Gold Cup in a dramatic deciding match Bermuda Gold Cup debutant Christian Hamilton (GBR) and his Khumbu Racing…
Research Reveals How Offshore Wind Farms Can Influence Ocean Temperatures
20th October 2026 Power From the Sea
Scientists studying Scotland's Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm have identified how turbine foundations can influence ocean mixing and temperatures, with implications for environmental monitoring New research has revealed how offshore wind farms can influence ocean temperatures and mixing, and why their…
The first Cape 26 one-design sportsboat from Wicklow-based Mills Design is touring European sailing centres following its delivery to Italy in September. The first Cape 26, designed by Wicklow-based naval architect Mark Mills, has arrived in Europe, with Hull No.…
Dún Laoghaire Cruise Access Plans Linked to Offshore Wind Base
20th October 2026 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council's plans to improve cruise-passenger access at St Michael's Pier are linked to the proposed development of an offshore wind operations base in Dún Laoghaire Harbour. The council's Cruise Passenger Realignment Project, currently open for public consultation…
Promoted
Airfloat says the new Community Sport Facilities Fund is a chance for rowing, sailing and paddle clubs to fix one of their most common problems: safe access to the water and somewhere to keep their boats. The Government's Community Sport…
Tramore Lifeboat Assists Two Fishermen After Vessel Suffers Engine Failure
20th October 2026 RNLI Lifeboats
Tramore RNLI volunteers launched their inshore lifeboat last Friday (16 October) to assist two people aboard a small fishing boat that had suffered engine failure off the Waterford coast. The crew’s pagers sounded at noon following a request to launch…
