#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where among the stories are outlined below.

This year’s theme of World Maritime Day was “Maritime education and training” which was celebrated at the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) headquarters in London and where other events will be held throughout the year.

d’Amico Tankers Ltd Ireland order construction and sale of two 75,000dwt product tankers with a Korean yard as part of a $755m fleet deal.

Afloat revealed as to the name chosen for Arklow Shipping’s second Royal Bodewes 5,100dwt trader cargoship currently under construction. She will be christened Arklow View and follows the launch of the leadship last month.

Consultants have been appointed by Rosslare Europort to evaluate the market interest of operating the harbour on a consession basis.

It was the place to be as 150 people attended the second Irish Maritime Forum held at the NMCI, Ringaskiddy, where speakers represented organisations and professionals from the broad Maritime Industry in Ireland.

The expansion of Galway Port faces an environmental hurdle, as parts of the plan would have a significant adverse impact on Galway Bay, said An Bord Pleanála in advance of next week's expected decision that already been delayed for many months.

#IrishMaritimeForum - The Irish Maritime Forum held last Friday was the place to be as more than 150 attendees where at the annual event at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Ringaskiddy.

The forum which was both hosted and organised by the NMCI looked at “Success through Synergy – an innovative and dynamic approach to the future”. The event had welcomed both organisations and maritime professionals operating in the broad Maritime Industry in Ireland.

The event was officially opened by John Mullins (Chairman, Port of Cork) before Simon Coveney, Minister of State for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Defence took to the stage to discuss the importance of the Maritime Industry to Ireland’s economic recovery and how "solutions to a number of the World's great challenges will come from the sea".

Having recently attended the Ploughing the Minister mentioned “how SeaFest (Maritime Festival) will become to maritime what the Ploughing Championships are to agriculture".

Setting the scene for the speakers Fergal O’Brien (IBEC) spoke about the Irish Economy and how we have gone from boom, to bust to recovery.

Liam Lacey, Director of the IMDO, took to the stage to discuss Ireland’s maritime potential, trends in the international shipping industry, and the Irish Tonnage tax system.

Jonathan Healy, MC for the event, then interviewed five key industry leaders in a Maritime Skills Panel Discussion; Rory McGuire (Flagship Management), Conor Mowlds (Head of College), Kevin Richardson (President of the International Harbour Masters Association), Captain Dave Elliott (Arklow Shipping) and Cormac Gebreurs (Head of Halpin Centre for Research & innovation).

The Maritime Skills panel discussed the shortage of skilled personnel in the industry, what issues face the industry in terms of finding the right personnel, and how new legislation is affecting the industry in terms of recruitment.

Dave Ward, Commercial Service Manager with Commissioner of Irish Lights, who spoke about the Great Lighthouses of Ireland.

Dave spoke about the role CIL are taking in the development of all island Lighthouse Tourism Project which looks at Securing and Protecting Lighthouse Heritage while stimulating local economic development and employment in coastal communities.

#RosslareConsultants- Rosslare Europort (operated by Iarnród Éireann) has appointed consultants to assist in the process of assessing market interest in, and evaluating opportunities from, a concession structure for the operation of the port.

Following a procurement process through the Official Journal of the European Union, Rebel - a Rotterdam based firm of specialist shipping & port consultants who formed a consortium with DKM Economic Consultants and STS International a Wexford based firm of specialist RoRo shipping consultants – have been appointed to lead the process and advise Europort management.

This follows a study by Indecon Consultants for the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport which examined strategic options for the future of the Europort, to maximise its potential and address future investment requirements. The report recommended that the Europort remain in the ownership of Iarnród Éireann, but with a long term concession with a third party.

The market consultation process being undertaken by Rebel on behalf of Rosslare Europort will assess interest and evaluate opportunities from a concession structure, including investment options for the future development of the Europort, which the concession proposal is designed to support.

Rosslare Europort is Ireland’s second busiest in terms of ship visits, unitised freight and passenger numbers, and is designated as one of only five ports of national significance in the National Ports Policy. The Port has recorded volume growth (freight and trade cars combined) of 7.1% in 2015 to date, on top of 5.5% growth in 2014.

#NewbuildView - Afloat.ie can reveal the vessel name chosen for its second Royal Bodewes built 5,100dwt trader cargo series will be Arklow View, she follows the launch of her leadship this day a week ago, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Take a closer (click & zoom) look-in to the above photo of the distinctive bow form designed to enhance fuel energy efficiency. On the bow are letters made in metal relief spelling out the newbuild’s name of Arklow View.

In the foreground at the Bodewes builders hall shipyard located in Hoogezand, the Netherlands, there appears to be the completed lower section of another bow module.

Perhaps could this bow already be the third? of the 10 new ships on order from Arklow Shipping. Each of these newbuilds will have a gross tonnage of just under 3,000.

The choice of the name Arklow View is a continuation of the ‘V’ naming nomenclature, though the last ships to feature under this second-hand V class series (see report), did not include the ‘View’.

In fact it was an older custom built 'V' class series of low-air draught general cargo traders that featured a vessel with the ‘View’ name. This was the 1991 built Arklow View of 2,827 tonnes which was completed by the German yard of Peters Schiffswerft in Wewelsfleth.

Arklow View had a telescopic bridge and was sold by ASL in 2006. She is currently the Jomi and is flagged in the Bahamas.

#TankersOrder – d’Amico International Shipping S.A. (Borsa Italiana: DIS), an international marine transportation company based in Dublin operating in the product tanker market, has announced through operating subsidiary d’Amico Tankers Ltd Ireland for newbuild orders and sale of vessels.

The agreement is for the construction and sale of two new long-range (LR1 – 75,000 dwt) modern product tanker vessels (the “vessels”) with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd., Korea similar to that one already purchased as disclosed on April 27th and on June 09th, 2015.

These vessels will be built by Hyundai Vinashin Shipyard Co. Ltd, Vietnam and are expected to be delivered in Q2 2018 and Q3 2018 respectively, for a total consideration of about US$ 44.0 million each.

The above two double‐hull newbuildings are the latest ECO design vessels with the highest fuel efficiency. The vessels will have an attained Energy Design Index (EEDI) falling already well within the IMO phase-in 2 requirements due for newbuilds to be completed before December 31st 2024, being of 25% lower than the current IMO reference line.

DIS controlled fleet includes 48.8 double-hull product tankers (MR and Handysize) with an average age of about 7.8 years (of which 23.3 owned vessels and 25.5 chartered-in vessels).

At the same time, DIS, through d’Amico Tankers Limited – Ireland (with offices domiciled in Dublin) has currently a total of 14 new ‘Eco design’ product tanker shipbuilding contracts.

This fleet includes 6 LR1, 4 MR and 4 Handysize vessels, all under construction at Hyundai Vinashin Shipyard Co. Ltd and expected to be delivered between Q4 2015 and Q3 2018.

#WorldMaritimeDay - Today is World Maritime Day and the theme for 2015 is “Maritime education and training”.

World Maritime Day is been celebrated today at the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) headquarters in London, but other events and activities focusing on maritime education and training will be held throughout the year.

The theme of "Maritime Education & Training" was adopted to focus attention on the wider spectrum of maritime education and training, in particular its adequacy and quality, as the bedrock of a safe and secure shipping industry. There is a need to preserve the quality, practical skills and competence of qualified human resources, in order to ensure its sustainability.

The 1978 STCW Convention and Code, as amended, set the international benchmark for the training and education of seafarers. While compliance with its standards is essential for serving on board ships, the skills and competence of seafarers, and indeed, the human element ashore, can only be adequately underpinned, updated and maintained through effective maritime education and training.

Symposium: "Shipping's future needs people: Is global maritime education and training on course?"

The Symposium is scheduled to take place today at IMO Headquarters. Speakers from the shipping and maritime industry and academia will address three sessions, covering:

Session 1: Opportunities for the young generation in the maritime industry

Session 2: Seafaring as a profession

Session 3: Developing seafarer skills through quality maritime education and training

IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu will open and close the Symposium.

Member Governments, inter-governmental organization and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO are invited to nominate delegates to attend the symposium.

Other events

Member Governments, the maritime industry and training centres are invited to organize their own events to support the theme today across the world.

#BiggestBoxBoat - The title of the world’s largest container ship which recently transferred to UASC Barzan, saw the giant ship arrive at DP World London Gateway yesterday evening from the Dutch Port of Europoort.

According to Ships Monthly, she unloaded more than 4,000TEU containing about a million products brought from Asia which will be distributed across the UK.

The vessel, with a declared capacity of 18,691TEU (though it is widely believe the capacity is in fact as high as 19,870TEU) became the largest ship to berth in the Thames, when the ship was diverted from Felixstowe.

To read more details from the UK shipping magazine on this historic maritime moment, click here.

#ShippingReview – Over the last fortnight, Jehan Ashmore has reported on the shipping scene where among the stories are outlined below.

Irish Continental Group division, EUCON has completed an upgrade programme of its container fleet with the introduction of 200 new 45ft units.

A year after the closure of the Stena HSS route, Dun Laoghaire Harbour witnessed a cargoship, Wilson Blyth (see photo above) that unloaded yet more fermentation tanks for Guinness St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin.

Landlocked headquartered ro-ro operator, CLdN RoRo SA announced they are to add 12 new vessels to its existing 24-strong fleet serving routes in northern and western Europe.

The Irish Maritime Forum heads to Cork and will look at "Success through synergy – an innovative & dynamic approach to the future". The event takes place at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy on September 25th.

In an important day for Arklow Shipping, the first of 10 newbuilds of 5,100dwat, Arklow Vale was launched in a spectacular fashion at the Royal Bodewes shipyard in the Netherlands.

#ShipLaunch - Ships godmother, Mrs Mari Louise de Jong performed the christening naming ceremony of Arklow Vale on Friday at Royal Bodewes ‘Jachtwijk’ yard in Hoogezand, the Netherlands, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Arklow Vale with a building number of 721 is the first of 10 in a series of 5,100dwat Bodewes Traders on order from Arklow Shipping. The new series of cargoships will continue to use vessel names beginning with the letter 'V' (see below).

The most striking features of this Bodewes Trader series are the distinctive design of an energy-saving bow form with a straight-stem.

As previously reported on Ports & Shipping, was the operation to join the fore and aft sections of Arklow Vale (see, above the excellent video 'in full screen' mode that includes the launch). The yard is located in the province of Groningen bordering Germany.

The completed hull has a 221,000 cb ft capacity and a gross tonnage just under 3, 000. Another moment that captures when the hull slipped off the stocks is by clicking here

The launch of the newbuild marks the transition from old to new as an elder trio of 4,950dwt general cargoships that dated from 1990 were all disposed in July. This previous generation also had the same ‘V’ class naming nomenclature.

More on the old 'V' class ships are also featured in the current edition of Ships Monthly magazine (Nov. issue). A photo of Arklow Viking is seen on her final day working under ASL colours at Dublin Port.

#IrishMaritimeForum - The Irish Maritime Forum 2015 will look at "Success through synergy – an innovative & dynamic approach to the future" by exploring the ocean of opportunities that exist within the sector and concentrating on the key drivers that are set to change the sector in the future.

The Irish Maritime Forum will take place at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), Ringaskiddy on September 25th 2015 between 08:30 to 17:00 hours.

The event is sponsored by Copius Resources, which is aimed at organisations and professionals within the maritime industry in Ireland.

This event, which will be formally opened by Minister Simon Coveney, is aimed at organisations and professionals operating within the broad maritime industry in Ireland.

On the proceeding day of the Maritime Forum, there is a drinks reception (sponsors & speakers only) on the evening of Thursday 24th which will be held at the Port of Cork. This social event will be followed by the main event as referred above on Friday 25th at the NMCI.

The programme for the main event will focus on a number of core themes, namely;

• The Maritime Industry (Sponsored by NMCI Services)
• Maritime Skills & Human Resources (Sponsored by Copius Resources)
• Port Sector (Sponsored by Ardmore Shipping Ltd.)
• Offshore & Renewables Sector (Sponsored by Irish Mainport Holdings Ltd.)
• Marine Tourism & Leisure (Sponsored by Port of Cork)

For further information regarding booking of this ticketed event, visit the official conference website: http://www.irishmaritimeforum.ie/