Jehan Ashmore

Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

Crane-ship, Lara 1 which had carried out work in Dublin Port, is seen recently alongside the Scottish harbour of Uig on the Isle of Skye, which is closed for redevelopment work until next month. Lara 1 is at the ferry pier, where fender brackets were installed to the inner dolphin, however alternative travel options for CalMac customers are in place on other routes.

Heavy-Lift Crane-Ship Works in Scotland for Ferry Infrastructure on Isle of Skye

22nd November 2023 Ferry

A heavy-lift crane-ship which worked in Dublin Port last month at an oil jetty berth as previously reported, is currently carrying out ferry infrastructure upgrade works in Scotland at Uig Harbour on the Isle of Skye, writes Jehan Ashmore. On…

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…

The annual ShortSea Shipping Conference is bound for the Port of HuelvaPort-facebook, Spain- 28 November

ShortSea Shipping Conference Bound for Port of Huelva, Spain - 28 November

20th November 2023 Ports & Shipping

The ShortSea Shipping Annual Conference this year is bound for the Port of Huelva, Spain on 28 November, with the conference title of "Short Sea Shipping: Efficiency, Sustainability, and Connectivity in the Service of Maritime and Land Logistics Chains." The…

Ferry workers on the new flagship Manxman are to be balloted on whether they would support strike action in a row over employment conditions. The newbuild has facilities for seafarers to live on-board.

Ferry Crew of New Isle of Man Flagship to be Balloted Over Strike Action

18th November 2023 Ferry

Ferry crew working for the Isle of Man Steam Packet, BBC News reports are to be balloted on whether they would support strike action in a row over employment conditions. Seafarers who are members of the trade union, Nautilus International…

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

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…

Passenger service expands on DFDS' Rosslare-Dunkirk route, part of the pan-European ferry company’s extensive network including the Baltic Sea, North Sea, English Channel and the Mediterranean. The enhanced service is operated by the Visentini shipyard built ropax Optima Seaways, which Afloat reported in 2021 in launching the direct Ireland-mainland Europe route against the back-drop of a surge in freight demand due to Brexit.

DFDS Expands Ireland-France Passenger Service of Rosslare-Dunkirk Due to High Demand

17th November 2023 Ferry

DFDS direct Ireland-mainland Europe ferry route of Rosslare-Dunkirk, as from today have special deals available to passengers booking in advance for travel in 2024. The Ireland-France service, offers tourists, with up to 50 cabins available for customers to book on…

Sandown class mine-hunter HMS Penzance (M106) named after the seaside town of Penzance in Cornwall, England, is the fourth vessel to bear the name, is visiting Dublin Port this weekend. The mine-hunter is seen on 9 November at Oban, west Scotland from where it departed.

Minehunter from the UK’s Royal Navy Sandown-Class Calls to Dublin Port

17th November 2023 Naval Visits

A Sandown-class minehunter of the UK’s Royal Navy, HMS Penzance (M1O6) which departed Oban in west Scotland is on a visit to Dublin Port having arrived this morning, writes Jehan Ashmore. During the week the 500 displacement tonnes HMS Penzance…

The Port of Galway reported a record year for 2022, and this year is expected likewise, due to a boom in importing wind-turbine components that has kept the western port busy. Above a port caller, Jaguar carries such cargo and is operated by Amasus Shipping B.V. Delfzijl in the Netherlands.

Port of Galway Reports 'Record' 2022 – And This Year Is On Track to Deliver Similar or Better Results

17th November 2023 Galway Harbour

The Port of Galway which gave a presentation held at the City Hall this week, has outlined the port’s strong bounce-back following COVID-19. Currently the port has a single dock, however as The Connacht Tribune writes, there are plans in the…

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…

Santoña, Brittany Ferries newest E-Flexer series cruiseferry as seen at Rosslare Europort having completed its maiden ‘Irish’ port of call from Cherbourg. In addition the newbuild which entered service this year for the French company, is now also operating to Spain but on the ‘temporary’ winter Rosslare-Bilbao route due to infrastructure works at Bilbao.

Santoña, Brittany Ferries Newest E-Flexer Series Sails to Rosslare Europort on Maiden ‘Irish’ Call

16th November 2023 Brittany Ferries

The third and newest E-Flexer class of Brittany Ferries, Santoña which entered service this year, has made its maiden ‘Irish’ port of call, having completed a crossing from Cherbourg to Rosslare Europort, writes Jehan Ashmore. According to Rosslare Europort, Santoña…

Due to the ongoing crew crisis, LÉ William Butler Yeats, is one of only two Naval Service patrol vessels currently operational up to the end of this year, with the remaining majority of vessels tied-up in Cork Harbour, however the Government is to double a Patrol Duty Allowance effective of 1st January, 2024 in an effort to get the patrol vessels back to sea.

Naval Service Crew to Have Offshore Allowance Doubled after Ten Days at Sea

16th November 2023 Navy

Naval Service crew are to see their allowance payment doubled as the Government has announced such payments will take effect, but only after ten days are spent at sea, reports RTE News. Currently, the Patrol Duty Allowance (PDA) is paid…

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…

Peel Ports and Suardiaz launch on Merseyside (Eastham) a UK-first with the opening of a £10m Green Automotive manufacturing Hub, to significantly reduce supply chain emissions in the North-West England. The facility welcomed the Suardiaz ro-ro vessel, Afloat adds, Friedrich Russ from Vigo Port in Spain, to where it returned last night, on a service that will operate twice-weekly.

Peel Ports Group and Spanish Operator Suardiaz Lines Launch on Merseyside the UK's First Green Automotive Manufacturing Hub

15th November 2023 Ports & Shipping

Across the Irish Sea, Peel Ports Group on Merseyside and Spanish shipping operator, Suardiaz Lines launched a UK-first Green Automotive manufacturing Hub, which will significantly reduce supply chain emissions in the north-west England. The £10 million facility which is the…

Mainport’s newest addition is the 60m vessel Mainport Edge which will be used as an offshore wind survey ship, which in 2015, was almost completed at a shipyard in Fujian, China and but is now fully built. At the shipyard is Mainports’ senior technical supervisor Vince Gallagher and local based supervisor Xiao.

Irish Mainport Holdings Purchase Vessel from Shipyard in China for Offshore Wind Survey Sector

15th November 2023 Ports & Shipping

Cork based shipping group, Irish Mainport Holdings have confirmed the purchase of another ship named Mainport Edge following a ceremony held last week at a shipyard in Fujian, China, writes Jehan Ashmore. Afloat.ie contacted Mainport which said that the vessel was 90%…

A trailing-suction hopper dredger, Freeway arrived to the Port of Waterford’s main terminal, Belview, today, following a repositioning passage from the UK, where works recently took place at English Channel ferry ports, Portsmouth and Newhaven. This week, Freeway is to start a maintenance dredging campaign along the Waterford Harbour estuary with disposal of spoil to take place offshore of Hook Head.

Dredger Arrives to Port of Waterford following Maintenance Campaigns at UK South Coast Ferry Ports

14th November 2023 Dredging

A dredger was tracked arriving to the Port of Waterford today, following works carried out in UK south coast ferry ports on the English Channel, however this week work is to start along the Waterford Harbour estuary, writes Jehan Ashmore.…

Toby Brooks (above) deputy director of Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) is further expanded its operations by appointing a new business development manager, Alexander Christensen to focus on Scandinavia and Northern Europe. The IOMSR is one of the world’s leading registers of ships and super yachts.

New Appointment at Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) to Further Expand Operations in Northern Europe & Scandinavia

14th November 2023 Isle of Man

A new appointment at The Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) to further expand its presence in northern Europe, has taken place with a business development manager to focus on the region and Scandinavia. Alexander Christensen, who has a wealth…

New to the Belfast-Birkenhead route is Stena Forwarder which Afloat highlights has a 2,500 freight lane metres capacity to serve the link’s shoulder sailing, operating along with twin passenger E-Flexer series ferries. Above the Copenhagen registered ro-ro in what it will look like when repainted in Stena livery.

Stena’s Freight-Ferry ‘Forwarder’ Enters Belfast-Birkenhead (Liverpool) Route

13th November 2023 Stena Line

A newly introduced freight-ferry for Stena Line’s Belfast-Birkenhead (Liverpool) route involved a ro-ro vessel make a maiden overnight crossing on the Irish Sea, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 2,500 freight-lane metres capacity Stena Forwarder arrived in Belfast on 3 November and…

Chartered to ICG, sees Epsilon which is to make a final sailing for Irish Ferries with today’s overnight Cherbourg-Dublin sailing, while in the reverse direction, P&O Ferries chartered in Norbay, debuts on the Ireland-France connection. Above Epsilon early in its career at the port in Normandy with in the background, the amidships of Brittany Ferries cruise-ferry, Barfleur, prior to departing for Poole, Dorset, England.

Ropaxs’ Chartered to Irish Ferries to See Epsilon Exit Service While Norbay Debuts on Ireland-France Route

10th November 2023 Irish Ferries

ICG's charter of Epsilon for Irish Ferries which for almost a decade operated Dublin-Holyhead and between the Irish capital and Cherbourg, France, is to complete its final sailing tomorrow, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 165 freight trailer unit / 500 passenger capacity…

Scilly season ends abruptly as Storm Ciaran batters Cornwall, causing cancelled sailings of the Isles of Scilly Steamship’s Scillonian III, as seen earlier this year at Penzance’s (outer pier) and fleetmate freighter, Gry Maritha. The latter former Norwegian vessel, continues the only year-round service, serving islanders with essential lifeline cargo-supplies, whereas passengers can continue to travel with the operator’s ‘Skybus’ air links from south-west England, where coastal attractions of the popular region include St. Michael’s Mount, in the distance of the harbour-town.

Scilly Season Ends, But Islands' Community Meetings Continue on New Vessel Replacement Programme Project

9th November 2023 Ferry

The seasonal Isles of Scilly Steamship ferry service has ended for the year as veteran Scillonian III sailed its last round-trip of Penzance Harbour-Hugh Town, St Mary's, the largest isle of the archipelago off Cornwall, England, writes Jehan Ashmore. The…

The ESPO Award 2023 winner is North Sea Port in recognition of its role in restoring nature in and around the port area to the benefit of the citizens and local community. The ESPO Award was handed out by Magda Kopczynska, Director General of DG MOVE in the European Commission.

North Sea Port Wins European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award 2023

8th November 2023 Ports & Shipping

North Sea Port has won the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award 2023 in recognition of its role in restoring nature in and around the port area to the benefit of the citizens and local community. Following a short-list of…