Small Ship's Cementing Relationship Between Dublin Port and the Channel Islands

11th January 2022

The smallest cargoship regularly calling to Dublin Port, Ronez is a Channel Islands based cement-carrier that berthed in the capital over the New Year's Day Bank Holiday weekend. The vessel is just 870grt and at 62m in length, yet plays an important role in exporting cement products. The coaster is also the oldest (built 1982) compared to the port's many modern day big ships among them ro-ro freighter Stena Forecaster (chartered to P&O) with its stern-door looming above the diminutive vessel. Credit: Jehan Ashmore

It's refreshing for a change not to report on numerous big ships dubbed 'Brexit-Busters' that involve ro-ro freighters, ferries and containerships, but to focus on the smallest regularly calling cargoship to Dublin Port, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In fact having observed this cargoship's calls to the capital becoming more frequent last year and the first arrival in 2022 took place recently when the diminutive ship of just 870grt in question, the cement-carrier Ronez arrived into the port on Sunday, 2nd January.

This followed a passage from Great Yarmouth, in the UK and when in Dublin Bay a pilot from the cutter DPC Tolka transferred to the cargoship close to The Muglins off Dalkey. On board is an international crew of seven who work a 6-hour shift, then a rest for another 6 hours.

It was due to the New Year's Day Bank Holiday held on Monday, that the Channel Islands based cargoship had to occupy a 'lay-over' berth in Dublin Port upon arriving the previous day.

The lay-over involved the Ronez berth at the North Wall Quay Extension, close to the Tom Clarke (East-Link) Toll-Bridge. The cement-carrier remained there until shifting berths downriver to Ocean Pier, but not until the Wednesday.

On this occasion, Ocean Pier was where cement-products were loaded as exports for the Channel Islands, can otherwise take place opposite along the south bank at the Deepwater Berth. The ship's operator, Ronez Ltd, supplies the Islands also with aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and precast concrete products.

As for cargoship's operations are concerned, Ronez is a self-pneumatic discharging vessel which can carry around 950 tonne of cement in two holds. This within the ship whose overall dimensions are as follows: length of 62.19m and on a beam of 10.03m.

So indeed this is a very small ship, yet the UK (Exeter) registered Ronez plays an important role carrying cargoes for the Channel Islands and in the trading of Irish cement exports.

Ronez this year marks a milestone as 2022 represents 40 years in service having been built in 1982 at the shipyard of Scheepswerf van Goor Monnickendam BV, in the Netherlands.

The cargoship also harks to an era of coasters that used to ply more so into Dublin Port until arguably in the main up to the late 1980's? This was at a time when observing such activity in a personal capacity led to logging a record of shipping movements and now includes use of AIS.

Also for a vessel of this vintage, Ronez has surprisingly kept its original name despite several ownerships, among them Huelin-Renouf Shipping that in late 2010, chartered-in the then brand newbuild Irish flagged Huelin Dispatch from Dundalk Shipping.

The Irish owned short-sea trader continued for other C.I. operations until 2013 but now is currently in Spanish waters while at anchorage off Algerciras in the Bay of Gibraltar.

Back to the Channel Islands where Ronez Ltd has island based operations at the Les Vardes Quarry and Vale Castle in Guernsey, where also the Ronez is based from its homeport of St. Sampson's Harbour. This is also where other operators import fuel and bulk-cargos to the small port that is nearby of St. Peter Port, the island's capital.

In addition, Ronez's run the St John’s Quarry in Jersey and so offers combined a range of construction materials for clients.

Quarrying activity on the Channel Islands, can be traced back to 1869 and continue to serve the island’s needs for quarried stone. Ronez has grown and developed the company over the years to produce precast materials, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and undertake contracting services.

Another aspect for Ronez is the cargoship's importation to the Channel Islands of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS). Both cement and GGBS is transferred from the 500 tonne silo terminals in the Islands to the concrete and concrete-products manufacturing facilities.

Returning to Ronez in Dublin Port from where when the ship was laden with cement departed on Saturday morning at 06.30hrs. Some two days later to arrive in Guernsey having berthed at 11.30hrs in St. Sampson's South Commercial Quay.

Upon discharging cement, the coaster would be kept busy again as the ship last night made a passage to St. Helier, the capital on neighbouring Jersey.

The early hours inter-island passage was completed just shy of six hours using the 10-knot powered vessel's Stork Werkspoor main engines. This saw the ship arrive today just after 05.30hrs at St. Helier's Victoria Pier

So where will the next port of call be? for this small yet hard-working veteran vessel.

Published in Dublin Port

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About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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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.

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About Dublin Port

Dublin Port is Ireland’s largest and busiest port with approximately 17,000 vessel movements per year. As well as being the country’s largest port, Dublin Port has the highest rate of growth and, in the seven years to 2019, total cargo volumes grew by 36.1%.

The vision of Dublin Port Company is to have the required capacity to service the needs of its customers and the wider economy safely, efficiently and sustainably. Dublin Port will integrate with the City by enhancing the natural and built environments. The Port is being developed in line with Masterplan 2040.

Dublin Port Company is currently investing about €277 million on its Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR), which is due to be complete by 2021. The redevelopment will improve the port's capacity for large ships by deepening and lengthening 3km of its 7km of berths. The ABR is part of a €1bn capital programme up to 2028, which will also include initial work on the Dublin Port’s MP2 Project - a major capital development project proposal for works within the existing port lands in the northeastern part of the port.

Dublin Port has also recently secured planning approval for the development of the next phase of its inland port near Dublin Airport. The latest stage of the inland port will include a site with the capacity to store more than 2,000 shipping containers and infrastructures such as an ESB substation, an office building and gantry crane.

Dublin Port Company recently submitted a planning application for a €320 million project that aims to provide significant additional capacity at the facility within the port in order to cope with increases in trade up to 2040. The scheme will see a new roll-on/roll-off jetty built to handle ferries of up to 240 metres in length, as well as the redevelopment of an oil berth into a deep-water container berth.

Dublin Port FAQ

How old is Dublin Port?

Dublin was little more than a monastic settlement until the Norse invasion in the 8th and 9th centuries when they selected the Liffey Estuary as their point of entry to the country as it provided relatively easy access to the central plains of Ireland. Trading with England and Europe followed which required port facilities, so the development of Dublin Port is inextricably linked to the development of Dublin City, so it is fair to say the origins of the Port go back over one thousand years. As a result, the modern organisation Dublin Port has a long and remarkable history, dating back over 300 years from 1707.

Where was the original Dublin Port located?

The original Port of Dublin was situated upriver, a few miles from its current location near the modern Civic Offices at Wood Quay and close to Christchurch Cathedral. The Port remained close to that area until the new Custom House opened in the 1790s. In medieval times Dublin shipped cattle hides to Britain and the continent, and the returning ships carried wine, pottery and other goods.

How big is Dublin Port?

510 acres. The modern Dublin Port is located either side of the River Liffey, out to its mouth. On the north side of the river, the central part (205 hectares or 510 acres) of the Port lies at the end of East Wall and North Wall, from Alexandra Quay.

Who owns Dublin Port?

Dublin Port Company is a State-owned commercial company responsible for operating and developing Dublin Port.

What is Dublin Port Company?

Dublin Port Company is a self-financing, and profitable private limited company wholly-owned by the State, whose business is to manage Dublin Port, Ireland's premier Port. Established as a corporate entity in 1997, Dublin Port Company is responsible for the management, control, operation and development of the Port.

Name someone famous connected to Dublin Port?

Captain William Bligh (of Mutiny of the Bounty fame) was a visitor to Dublin in 1800, and his visit to the capital had a lasting effect on the Port. Bligh's study of the currents in Dublin Bay provided the basis for the construction of the North Wall. This undertaking led to the growth of Bull Island to its present size.

Is Dublin the largest Port in Ireland?

Yes. Dublin Port is the largest freight and passenger port in Ireland. It handles almost 50% of all trade in the Republic of Ireland.

Who handles the Cargo in Dublin Port?

All cargo handling activities being carried out by private sector companies operating in intensely competitive markets within the Port. Dublin Port Company provides world-class facilities, services, accommodation and lands in the harbour for ships, goods and passengers.

Who is the Chief Executive of Dublin Port?

Eamonn O'Reilly is the Dublin Port Chief Executive.

Who is the Harbour Master of Dublin Port?

Capt. Michael McKenna is the Dublin Port Harbour Master

How many passengers come through Dublin Port each year?

In 2019, 1,949,229 people came through the Port.

How many cruise liners arrive in Dublin Port?

In 2019, there were 158 cruise liner visits.

How many tonnes of exports were shipped by Dublin Port?

In 2019, 9.4 million gross tonnes of exports were handled by Dublin Port.

How many ships arrive at Dublin Port each year?

In 2019, there were 7,898 ship arrivals.

What is the total throughput of goods at Dublin Port?

In 2019, there was a gross tonnage of 38.1 million.

How many tourist vehicles come through Dublin Port?

In 2019, there were 559,506 tourist vehicles.

How many trade vehicles come through Dublin Port?

There were 98,897 lorries in 2019

Can pleasure craft enter Dublin Port?

Boats can navigate the River Liffey into Dublin by using the navigational guidelines. Find the guidelines on this page here.

What is the VHF Channel for Dublin Port control?

VHF channel 12. Commercial vessels using Dublin Port or Dun Laoghaire Port typically have a qualified pilot or certified master with proven local knowledge on board. They "listen out" on VHF channel 12 when in Dublin Port's jurisdiction.

Is there a Dublin Bay webcam?

A Dublin Bay webcam showing the south of the Bay at Dun Laoghaire and a distant view of Dublin Port Shipping is here

What is Dublin Port’s 'distributed museum'?

Dublin Port is creating a distributed museum on its lands in Dublin City.  A Liffey Tolka Project cycle and pedestrian way is the key to link the elements of this distributed museum together. The distributed museum starts at the Diving Bell and, over the course of 6.3km, will give Dubliners a real sense of the City, the Port and the Bay. For visitors, it will be a unique eye-opening stroll and vista through and alongside one of Europe’s busiest ports: Diving Bell along Sir John Rogerson’s Quay over the Samuel Beckett Bridge, past the Scherzer Bridge and down the North Wall Quay campshire to Berth 18 - 1.2 km. Liffey Tolka Project - Tree-lined pedestrian and cycle route between the River Liffey and the Tolka Estuary - 1.4 km with a 300-metre spur along Alexandra Road to The Pumphouse (to be completed by Q1 2021) and another 200 metres to The Flour Mill. Tolka Estuary Greenway - Construction of Phase 1 (1.9 km) starts in December 2020 and will be completed by Spring 2022. Phase 2 (1.3 km) will be delivered within the following five years. The Pumphouse is a heritage zone being created as part of the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project. The first phase of 1.6 acres will be completed in early 2021 and will include historical port equipment and buildings and a large open space for exhibitions and performances. It will be expanded in a subsequent phase to incorporate the Victorian Graving Dock No. 1 which will be excavated and revealed.   The largest component of the distributed museum will be The Flour Mill. This involves the redevelopment of the former Odlums Flour Mill on Alexandra Road based on a masterplan completed by Grafton Architects to provide a mix of port operational uses, a National Maritime Archive, two 300 seat performance venues, working and studio spaces for artists and exhibition spaces. The Flour Mill will be developed in stages over the remaining twenty years of Masterplan 2040 alongside major port infrastructure projects.