Displaying items by tag: Wave Awards

22nd October 2021

Wave Awards Sees Port of Southampton Named ‘Best Port’

At the 2021 Wave Awards, ABP's Port of Southampton has been awarded ‘Best Port’. The port in Hampshire is the UK's largest cruise port handling around 500 cruise calls and 2m passengers annually.

At the 2021 Wave Awards which celebrates excellence and innovation in the cruise industry, the UK south coast Port of Southampton has been awarded ‘Best Port’.

This latest win for Southampton (of Associated British Ports) confirms its status as the UK’s capital of cruising and Europe’s leading cruise turnround port.

The award was presented to ABP’s Head of Cruise Rebekah Keeler and her team at the black-tie ceremony in London on 15 October. The accolade follows Seatrade Cruise Global awarding the Port of Southampton ‘Port of the Year’ last month at its annual industry event in Miami.

Rebekah Keeler said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won our second cruise industry award of the season. It is fantastic recognition for our teams and the whole port community, acknowledging the level of work that has gone into providing the best experience for cruise lines and passengers.”

The Port of Southampton has been at the forefront of growth in the cruise industry, having spent the last few years investing heavily in its cruise infrastructure. Just this year, the English Channel port opened its fifth world-class cruise terminal, the Horizon Cruise Terminal, with an investment of £55 million.

The dedicated cruise facility includes Shore Power connectivity, which means zero emissions at berth for ships with the onboard capability.

As Europe’s leading cruise turnaround port, The Port of Southampton typically welcomes around 500 cruise calls and two million passengers per year.

Published in Cruise Liners

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.