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A file photo at the launch of MV Glen Sannox, the first of pair of duel-fuel powered ferries for Scotland's Western Isles operator CalMac is seen at the the now nationalised shipyard of Ferguson Marine on the Clyde
Scottish Ministers have been asked to "come clean" as fears grow over the collapse of the nationalised shipyard firm at the centre of the ferry-building fiasco, reports The Herald. It comes after The Herald On Sunday, revealed the Scottish Government-controlled…
An artist's impression of how the Doyle Shipping Group's dockyard (former shipyard of Verolme Cork Dockyard) in Cork Harbour, could be used as a major hub for the delivery and assembly of offshore wind turbines. AFLOAT adds as part of the proposed redevelopment at Rushbrooke, west of Cobh, is a ro-ro linkspan, to discharge wind farm components from a specialist vessel with an extra height raised bow visor to enable such large scale project cargo on board.
Ireland is setting itself the ambitious goal of developing 5,000MW of offshore wind energy by the end of the decade, in the meantime ports and harbours around the country are putting in place plans and infrastructure to facilitate such development. …
European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Social Integration for 2021 has attracted 11 ports participating in projects for the award, among them the Irish port of Dublin.  ESPO represents the seaport authorities of all maritime Member States towards the EU institutions.
This year's European Sea Port Organisation (EPSO)'s Award on Social Integration, sees 11 ports (among them an Irish Port) that have submitted a project for the award. The following is a list in alphabetical order by country of the ports…
In Scotland, the Prince of Wales visited BAE Systems’ shipyard in Govan, Glasgow to mark the official start of construction on the Royal Navy’s 21st century warship HMS Belfast, and to see how construction is progressing on as Afloat adds the leadship of the 'City' class Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow. All eight of the class, however will be built on the River Clyde shipyard where also currently under construction is HMS Cardiff. AFLOAT adds the 'Cardiff' class name coincidentally was also used by a previous shipyard owner, Govan Shipbuilders Ltd which completed their fourth and final 'Cardiff' class bulk carrier for Irish Shipping. The final of the 25,000dwt bulk-carrier quartet was launched as Irish Larch in 1973. However, just over a decade later, the Irish state-owned company had gone into liquidation.
At a shipyard in Scotland, Prince William cut the steel on HMS Belfast, a ship which will form part of a modern fleet serving the UK's Royal Navy for decades to come, reports BBC News. Pushing down on a button…
The straight-stemmed bow of the new Irish flagged Arklow Artist, the final 'A' class series is seen departing from a Dutch shipyard on the Ems Canal, has been delivered to Arklow Shipping. AFLOAT tracked the newbuild currently berthed in the North Sea port of Emshaven at the Julianahaven basin before it embarks trading in typical 'bread & butter' cargoes such as corn and wheat.
A new cargoship Arklow Artist, the sixth and final of the 'A' class series built at a shipyard in The Netherlands was recently delivered to Co. Wicklow shipowners, writes Jehan Ashmore. As the video shows the bulk-orientated general cargsoship's transit along the…
Clydeside Shipyard: The late Ferguson Marine ferries for Scottish operator, CalMac have been delayed up to another five months due to skill shortage and Covid. Above, the first of the pair, MV Glen Sannox (to serve Arran) this week showing repaired funnel, newly-constructed mast and fresh paint.
Delays of up to a further five months to the completion of two long-awaited CalMac ferries were announced yesterday by shipyard Ferguson Marine, writes The Scotsman. The latest setback was blamed on a shortage of skilled workers and Covid restrictions…
The year 2020 says the IMDO was one of the most challenging years that faced the Irish maritime industry for many decades.
The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) has announced the publication of the 18th edition of the Irish Maritime Transport Economist. In this edition, we report on 2020, one of the most challenging years that the Irish maritime industry has faced…
An aerial view of Dublin city and its port
Ports and “port cities” from Cork to Dublin to Europe and beyond will play an influential role in redesigning urban centres. That’s the view of the European University of Post-Industrial Cities (UNIC) alliance, involving University College Cork (UCC) and seven…
Irish Sea ro pax Norbank, in this Afloat file photo, arriving at Dublin Port (off Poolbeg Marina) from Liverpool, was a recent caller to the UK dry-dock facility of A&P Tyne on England's North Sea coast.
An Irish Sea ferry was among those at UK shipyards on England's North Sea coast, where A&P North East's Tyne and Tees faclities reported a strong two-month period. Afloat adds the ferry, ro pax Norbank, which P&O Ferries operates on…
 Ben-My-Chree on the stocks of the Merseyside dry-dock at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, however the Manx ro pax ferry's return was delayed after the shipyard's tug broke.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet's Ben-my-Chree will head back to the Island (today, 2 June), more than seven weeks after heading intoa dry dock for refit (at Cammell Laird shipyard on Merseyside).  The company's freight and passenger ro-pax ferry has been…
The UK prime minister says national flagship, a successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia, would promote British trade and industry around the world. As AFLOAT previously reported, the naval architect of Cunard's 'QM2' proposed the newbuild should be built in Belfast.
In the UK a new national flagship, the successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia, will promote British trade and industry around the world, said Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The newbuild vessel would be used to host trade fairs, ministerial summits…
The Scottish Government has been told it will have to pay £5 million to insurers over the Clydeside shipyard of Ferguson Marine ferries fiasco. This involved a pair of ferries for CalMac with Glen Sannox (above) for the Arran route and a sister for Skye-Harris-North Uist services.
Scottish Ministers have lost a case at the Court of Session brought by HCC International Insurance over money paid to Scottish Government-owned ferries owner Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal). In 2015, Cmal ordered two ferries for CalMac to be built…
H&W's Methil site, in Scotland is to host a Careers Open Day
Following the recent acquisition of two Scottish based sites, Infratrata, owners of Belfast shipyard Harland & Wolff, is to open to prospective employees a careers open day. The careers open day is to take place at H&W's (Methil) Forth of Fifth site…
Irish Ports handled 51.4 million tonnes of goods in 2020 - a decrease of 3.5% compared with 2019, new CSO figures show. Above Afloat adds a shipping scene off Cobh in Cork Harbour
Irish ports saw a decrease of 8.5% last year, on the number of vessels arriving, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show today. The CSO said the gross tonnage of all arriving vessels fell by 8.7% to 254.6 million…
Port of Waterford has launched a brand new report ‘The Maritime Heritage of Waterford Estuary’, which has been commissioned by the port to highlight the variety of opportunities to develop and promote the south-eastern estuary.
The Irish Port of Waterford has launched a brand new report titled ‘The Maritime Heritage of Waterford Estuary’. Marine resource economist, Dr Naomi S. Foley, the author of the report, was commissioned by the south-east port to highlight the variety…
The Prince of Wales finished the visit by unveiling a celebratory plaque marking the 160th anniversary of Harland & Wolff.
Harland & Wolff, the iconic shipyard on Belfast Lough with over 160 years of maritime and offshore engineering pedigree, welcomed The Prince of Wales on 18 May 2021 to mark its 160th anniversary. Arriving at Harland & Wolff (Belfast), His Royal…

As an island economy, a healthy maritime sector is key to our national competitiveness. Virtually all our imports and exports pass through Irish ports.

Ireland is dependent on ports and shipping services to transport goods and 90% of our trade is moved though Irish ports. Shipping and maritime transport services make a significant contribution to Ireland’s ocean economy, with the sector generating €2.3 billion in turnover and employing over 5,000 people in 2018.

Ireland’s maritime industry continues to grow and progress each year with Irish ports and shipping companies making significant investments. The ports sector in Ireland is currently undergoing a number of expansions and developments with Dublin Port’s Alexandra Basin development, the development of Ringaskiddy in Cork by Port of Cork and the development of Shannon Foynes Port. Along with these major investments, shipping companies are also investing heavily in new tonnage, with Irish Ferries, CLdN and Stena leading new build programmes.

These pages cover the following sectoral areas: shipowners, harbour authorities, shipbrokers, freight forwarders and contractors, cruise liner operators, port users, seamen, merchants, academic institutions, shipyards and repair facilities, naval architects, navy and defence personnel.

Our pages are covering some of the most notable arrivals around our coast and reporting too on port development and shipping news.

This section of the site deals with Port and Shipping News on our largest ports Dublin Port, Port of Cork, the Shannon Estuary, Galway Harbour and Belfast Lough.

A recent study carried out for the Irish Ports Association (IPA) totalled 75.7 billion during 2004 and their net economic impact was some 5.5 billion supporting around 57, 500 full time employees.

Liam Lacey, Director of the Marine Institute’s Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) said, “The Irish maritime industry can look to the future with confidence. It has shown itself to be resilient and agile in responding to challenges. Over the past decade, it has had to respond to the challenges of the financial crisis of 2008, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and recent challenges. Ireland’s maritime sector has continued to underpin our economy by maintaining vital shipping links for both trade and tourism.”