#PORT OF CORK – The Cork Business Association recently awarded the Cork of Port Company as the 'Large Company of the Year for the 2nd Quarter 2012'.

The port is home to Irelands only dedicated cruise berth in Cobh, which during this year's season will see a total of 60 cruiseships visiting the harbour between April and November. In that timeframe more than 100,000 passengers and crew are to call to the region. According to Failte Ireland, the average spend per in-transit passenger approximately €73 per day which brings positive impacts for business in Cork.

Commenting on the award Brendan Keating CEO of the port said "We as a port are delighted to be receiving this award today from Cork Business Association. 2012 is proving to be another busy year for the cruise business in Cork, with 60 liners calling, of which three are operating part turnaround calls and ten liners are maiden visits to the port. We are continuing to work to grow our business and we have ambitious plans to increase to 80 cruise calls a season over the next five years".

He continued "While the port puts in a huge effort to bring the liners to Cork the business would not work without the relationship and continued joint efforts of the tour operators, ship-agents, bus companies, Irish Rail and local tourism groups".

Keating also emphasised the importance of the regions tourist attractions on offer, which helped to make the cruise business what it is today.

As of this week Afloat.ie adds that Hebridean Island Cruises 50 passenger Hebridean Princess is scheduled to call to Cobh overnight on Wednesday. At the start of next weekend sees Silverseas Cruises 296 passenger Silver Cloud call on Friday. Two days later the giant 3,592 passenger capacity Caribbean Princess is also to make an apperance berthing alongide the town's deepwater quay. For a list of cruise caller click HERE.

#portofcork – The Port of Cork Maritime Collection, an exhibition of maritime themed paintings and models is now open at the Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh.  The exhibition, which will run until 22nd July, will showcase a selection of the Port's historic maritime art pieces dating back from the 1800s. Highlights of the collection include a number of paintings by marine artist George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson and Robert Lowe Stopford who is known for his series of panoramic views of Queenstown.

This exhibition offers the public a chance to view this one of a kind collection of paintings and models which are usually housed in the Port's headquarters in Custom House. In 2005, to celebrate Cork's year as Capital of Culture, the Port of Cork hosted an exhibition of maritime art dating back to the 1700s which drew hundreds of visitors from far and wide. In 2010, paintings also went on loan to Dachau museum for an exhibition which formed part of a year-long commemoration of the life and works of renowned Cork composer and conductor Aloys Fleischmann.  More recently, in April 2012, paintings went on loan to Belfast Port to form part of their 'Kings of the Tides' exhibition.

Speaking about the exhibition, Chief Executive of the Port of Cork Brendan Keating said "The Port of Cork is delighted that we are able to share our exceptional collection of paintings and models with the people of Cork and beyond. These works give us a glimpse of how our harbour has changed over the years and also reminds us of the rich history of Cork's shipping business. I would like to thank Sirius Arts Centre for hosting our collection and to Peter Murray and the Crawford Gallery for making this exhibition possible."

Entry to the exhibition is free of charge.

For further information, see www.siriusartscentre.ie or phone 021 4813790.

Gallery Opening Hours:

Wednesday – Friday: 11AM - 5PM

Saturday & Sunday: 2PM - 5PM

Monday & Tuesday: Closed

#PORTOFCORK – The Port of Cork today officially marked the expansion of the container handling facility at the Sean Lemass Deepwater Terminal, Ringaskiddy. These additional handling facilities have enabled the Port of Cork and global shipping company, Maersk to commence their first ever direct service to Ireland which now operates weekly, starting in the Mexican port of Vera Cruz and calling to Costa Rica, Belize and Panama before reaching Cork. This new service has enabled the Port of Cork to greatly increase efficiency both in imports and exports.

The Port of Cork has invested €2.9 million to bring this new service to fruition, with the investment in a new container compound and with the purchase of a new electric RTG (Rubber Tyred Gantry).

Port of Cork Chairman, Dermot O'Mahoney explained how this expansion is essential both for the port and for the local economy "The investment by the Port of Cork in this new facility demonstrates our commitment as a port to continue to grow the container business which in turn, provides a much needed stimulus in Ireland's import and export trade. Over the coming months, we will be embarking on new projects to continue to grow our facilities and to attract more services such as this into Cork.

"The vessels being used for this service are some of the largest of their type to be accommodated in the port, highlighting the deep-water capabilities of the port and the excellent facilities we have in place to handle such a service," he continued.

This new service sees a return of the banana trade with Fyffes to Cork which has not been seen in the port since the 1980s.

#PORTOFCORK – Port of Cork is host to a United Nations capacity building programme on international trade TrainForTrade Port Training Programme focussing on 'Modern Port Management' which kicked off yesterday (Tuesday, 22nd May 2012) and which will run in the city for two weeks, until 1st June.

The programme, which sees 28 delegates attending from countries across the globe including Ghana, Indonesia, Maldives, Namibia, South Africa, Pakistan and Tanzania, has been organised by UNCTAD in cooperation with Port of Cork (PoC), Dublin Port Company (DPC), Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC), and with the support of Irish Aid.

The TrainForTrade programme was set-up to facilitate sustainable economic development in developing and transition countries through training and capacity development and is run by UNCTAD, whose mandate is to work for development-led globalisation, where the development paths are sustainable and inclusive.

At the Port Training Programme, delegates will participate in workshops and will learn best practice examples from a wide selection of Port of Cork's operational areas including strategic planning, financial management, economic and commercial management and administrative and legal management. Workshops will also be given by representatives from Dublin Port Company, Irish Aid, UCC and Dublin City University throughout the two week programme.

Speaking about the conference, Port of Cork Harbour Master, Captain Pat Farnan commented "We are delighted to be hosting this exceptional conference with UNCTAD both to showcase our world class port facilities here in Cork and also to extend our knowledge of port operations to these delegates. Together with Dublin Port Company, Belfast Harbour Commissioners and Irish Aid, we recognise the importance of helping these countries to develop sustainable commercial port operations for themselves and I am certain this training programme will play a substantial part in achieving that goal.

"All of the delegates attending this conference are involved in port management in their respective countries and it is our goal that they will take their learning's back to their colleagues at home to train others to ensure that this valuable knowledge is passed on", he continued.

#CRUISE LINERS – Due to bad weather a 11-day circumnavigation cruise of Ireland by Clipper Adventurer which is currently en-route from Argentina has been diverted to Cork, deferring the start of the cruise which was due to depart from Waterford today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 101m long vessel operated by Noble Caledonia was to welcome over 230 American and Canadian passenger on a cruise organised by Adventure Canada, in association with Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

According to the cruise itinerary the tourists were firstly to fly to Dublin and stay last night in a city-centre hotel. Also originally as scheduled was a coach tour today to visit Glendalough and the Rock of Cashel before reaching Waterford this afternoon to board the small expedition ship.

Despite the setback the 4,000 tonnes vessel with a crew of 65 which is on a repositioning voyage from South America to Europe was to make Cork her port of call tomorrow anyway. The only change being the embarkation port at the expense of the crystal city.

Clipper Adventurer is expected to arrive in Cork Harbour from 12 noon tomorrow and head for Ringaskiddy Deepwater Terminal. Also due is the 290m Emerald of the Seas which at 113,000 tonnes is in complete contrast as the massive vessel can accommodate over 3,500 passengers and 1,200 crew. She is to berth at Cobh cruise terminal.

Asides cruise callers the ferryport in Ringaskiddy will be as usual expecting the weekend-only call of Brittany Ferries flagship cruiseferry Pont-Aven, having made a crossing overnight from Roscoff.

While on the May Bank Holiday Monday Cobh is also set to welcome an even larger cruise caller in the form of the Independence of the Seas. The 154,000 tonnes giant is no stranger to the harbour as she made her maiden 'Irish' port of call in 2007. She can handle over 4,300 passengers and over 1,300 crew alone.

#CORK HARBOUR – Fifth class boys in a Cork Harbour school have bagged a Port of Cork Company award for a project based on a transport theme in Cork Harbour.

Scoil Naisúnta Cros tSeain (Crosshaven Boys National School) the Best Overall Project in the 2012 Port of Cork Schools Initiative. The huge effort made by the 5th class paid off when they were presented with best overall project by the Chairman of the Port of Cork, Mr. Dermot O' Mahoney, in the boardroom at Customs House.

Twenty schools from in and around Cork City and Harbour area took part in the Port of Cork Schools Initiative which was themed 'Ships, Steam Trains and Seaplanes – the Cork Harbour Connection'.

This year's judges; Mr. John Neville Port of Cork, Mr. Marc Anderson Titanic 100 and Mr. Brian Lougheed Evening Echo all praised the huge effort and creativity made by the participating primary schools. Projects submitted were both informative and visually very creative and colourful.

Mr. John Neville, Port of Cork, said: "The projects submitted were inspiring. This is an excellent way for children to learn about the history of the harbour, the different methods of transport both on and off the water and most importantly, how the harbour can be enjoyed today.'

Commenting on the school projects, the Chairman of the Port of Cork, Mr. Dermot O'Mahoney said; 'Congratulations to Scoil Naisúnta Cros tSeain (Crosshaven Boys National School) for their excellent submission. It is clear every 5th class pupil went to a lot of effort researching, creating and building their project. All the projects were of a very high standard and we acknowledge and appreciate the time and commitment by the teachers. We are delighted with the efforts put in by the participating schools and well done to all involved.'

All participating classes will be invited for an informative visit to Custom House followed by a boat trip around Cork Harbour, a visit to The Titanic Experience and Cobh Heritage Centre and rounded up with a train journey from Cobh to Cork City.

The overall best project winners, Scoil Naisúnta Cros tSeain (Crosshaven Boys National School) will get to go on board one of the many luxurious cruise liners which call to Cork for a tour of the ship and to meet the captain.

This is the seventh year of the Port of Cork Company's successful Primary Schools initiative.

Prizes were also awarded to the following classes;

Best Photograph – 5th Class, Templebreedy, Crosshaven

Best Artwork Piece – 5th Class, Glasheen Boys National School, Glasheen

#TITANIC MEMORIAL CRUISE  - Following Balmoral's recent call to Belfast in memory of Titanic, the Fred.Olsen Lines cruiseship returned to Southampton where today she started a 12-night Titanic Memorial Cruise which will follow the White Star Line liner's original itinerary that included calling to Queenstown, now Cobh.

Before Balmoral calls to Cobh tomorrow, she is to pass Cherbourg, where the passenger tender SS Nomadic served the liner that layed anchored offshore. The 101 year-old  tender was also built by Harlalnd & Wolff  and she is undergoing restoration work in Belfast, to read more about her click HERE.

Likewise to Balmoral's Belfast visit, her arrival to Cobh is the inaugural call for this year's season, though her poignant arrival will be two days short of Titanic's call a century ago on 11th April 1912.

On Titanic's second anchorage at Queenstown, this too required tenders to transfer 123 passengers who embarked from the town's pier and of those only 44 survived the disaster. The timber built pier still exists albeit what survives is in a derelict state. There have been calls to raise funds to save the structure as previously reported.

Along the scenic waterfront passengers can take a tour of the town's new Titanic Experience in the White Star Line building, the Queenstown Heritage Story in the Cobh Hertiage Centre and the walking Titanic Trails.

From Cobh the Balmoral will sail across the Atlantic, arriving at the Titanic site on April 14th/15th - exactly 100 years on from this tragic voyage, where a memorial service will be held to pay tribute to the brave passengers and crew who perished on that fateful night.

The cruise will then continue to Halifax, Nova Scotia, the final resting place of many who were on board, before sailing on to New York, the Titanic's ultimate planned destination.

#PORTS & SHIPPING – As previously reported on Afloat.ie Maersk Line's newly launched liner service that includes the return of the banana trade to the Port of Cork continues as another shipment is due from Central America /Caribbean ports with the arrival of Nedlloyd Adriana (photo) tomorrow, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Nedlloyd Adriana (2003/ 26,833grt) is a younger sister of Maersk Nolanville (2004/26,833grt) which previously docked at the Ringaskiddy Deepwater Berth as part of the services weekly call. Onboard the 2,500 (TEU) twenty equivalent unit capacity containerships, they include 800 (reefer points) i.e electrically plugged in refrigerated containers to store perishable products.

Noting the cargo deck arrangement is divided by the superstructure, which in vessel design terms is not unusual, but is not normally seen in Irish waters due to this larger sized containership. She is fitted with three deck-mounted cranes positioned forward of the bridge and a single-aft crane to cater for the smaller cargo-deck astern.

The vessel was built in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan and was launched as Adriana Star. She was  later renamed P&O Nedlloyd Adriana until dropping her operators prefix in 2004.

When the vessel has completed operations in Ringaskiddy, she heads to UK and continental ports to complete the liner service which is served in total by a pool of eight similar sized vessels.

The term 'liner' service refers to a dedicated regularly operated network of long-distance routes across oceans that connect ports between the continents.

The liner service is complemented by an onward internal network of short-seas routes known as 'feeder' services and use smaller containerships such as Vega Stockholm (photo) which calls to Dublin Port (see BBC The 'Box') as previously reported on Afloat.ie

As in the case of the Maersk Line liner service which brings bananas from source directly to Cork, there is no requirement to transfer such cargo by feeder vessel from another port in the UK or mainland Europe.

#PORT OF CORK – Global shipping giant Maersk Line recently started their first ever direct service to Ireland with a new liner service calling to the Port of Cork and sees the return of the 'banana' trade not last seen in port since the 1970's, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The older 'banana' boats or reefers that used to serve Cork may be long gone but the Danish owned Maersk Line will be operating an impressive  pool of eight large contiainerships. They will bring leading banana brands from Central American ports to Europe  with Cork being the first port of call in Europe. The liner service starts in the Mexican port of Vera Cruz and includes calls to Costa Rica, Belize, Panama before reaching Cork.

One of the vessels Maersk Nolanville (2004/26,833grt) last week docked in Ringaskiddy Deepwater Terminal, is one of  the largest of her type to be accommodated in the port. At 700m long, a beam over 30m and drawing a draft exceeding 10m the South Korean built vessel was too large to berth at the ports Tivoli Container Terminal further upriver on the Lee.

Maersk Nolanville and her fleet-mates will operate with a weekly call to Cork on Thursdays, where quayside cranes in Ringaskiddy will handle the 2,500 (TEU) capacity vessels including around 800 refrigerated containers containing perishable tropical fruits.

Asides bananas the vessels will import other cargoes, with the containerships also calling to Tilbury in the UK and Rotterdam and with exports on the return leg of the long trans-Atlantic voyage home.

#IMERC CONFERENCE - The recently established Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) which is to promote the country as a world-renowned research and development location, is to host next month its inaugural conference entitled 'Maritime Geostrategic Thinking for Ireland'.

Minster for Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. will address the conference at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), Ringaskiddy, Co, Cork which is to be held on Friday 9th March.

In addition to keynotes speakers addressing the conference are Glenn Murphy (IMDO), Commodore Mellett of the Naval Service, Anthony Gurnee from Ardmore Shipping, Helen Noble, Head of Maritime Law at Matheson Ormsby and Prentice and Professor D John Mangan from the University of Newcastle.

Below is a programme schedule of the conference and additional information and link.

Session 1: Fighting recession by supporting an export led economy

Session 2: Building maritime security capability in support of economic development

Session 3: Future of Maritime Ireland

Session 4: IMERC Industry Engagement

To make a booking and receive further details on the conference contact IMERC Tel: (021) 433 5717  or by clicking HERE.

IMERC is based on the campus grounds of NMCI which is located between the Naval Service Base on Haulbowline Island and the neighbouring ferryport in Ringaskiddy.

Under phrase 1 of IMERC's campus development plans, it aims for the construction of the UCC National Beaufort Centre by May 2013. Phase 2 of the campus is for an extended maritime and energy science and commercial park located on the adjacent Port of Cork owned landbank.