Shannon Foynes Takes Part in First Irish Ports Safety Week With Tanker Exercise

8th November 2021

Shannon Foynes took part in the first ever Irish Ports Safety Week with a berthing procedure exercise involving the petroleum products tanker Thun Gemini as seen arriving at Foynes Port. Credit: SFPC-twitter

As part of the inaugural Irish Port Safety Week, among the ports participating was Shannon Foynes Port Company and which involved the call of a short-sea petroleum products tanker, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Thun Gemini arrived to the Shannon Estuary port of Foynes to discharge a cargo of petroleum. Such berthing requires preparedness and which is key to ensure safe and effective mooring operations are adhered to.

Berthing of the 4,100dwt Thun Gemini involved planning and appropriate procedures are followed as safe mooring must withstand the combined potential natural forces, such as wind, current and tide.

Thun Gemini is no stranger to Irish Ports including the east coast with fleetmates of the Thun Tankers operated vessel frequently plying in the Irish Sea having made passage through the Celtic Sea laden with cargoes loaded at the Pembrokeshire estuary of Milford Haven in south Wales. This is the UK's largest energy port that handles over 30 million tonnes of cargo annually.

Since last week's exercise took place at Foynes, Afloat tracked the Thun Gemini, having departed and rounded the south-west coast before heading off the entrance of Cork Harbour where the vessel currently remains at anchorage.

The 2003 built G-class vessel is operated by a Swedish lake-based shipowner, Thun Tankers (Erik Thun Group) whose homeport of Lidköping is located on Lake Vänern. This is the third largest lake in Europe which is connected by a sea canal to the west coast of the Scandinvian nation.

In recent years the 114m Dutch flagged tanker made an unusual call to Dun Laoghaire Harbour, this was to facilitate maintenance work which took place alongside the Carlisle Pier.

Published in Shannon Estuary

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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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Shannon Foynes Port Information

Shannon Foynes Port (SFPC) are investing in an unprecedented expansion at its general cargo terminal, Foynes, adding over two-thirds the size of its existing area. In the latest phase of a €64 million investment programme, SFPC is investing over €20 million in enabling works alone to convert 83 acres on the east side of the existing port into a landbank for marine-related industry, port-centric logistics and associated infrastructure. The project, which will be developed on a phased basis over the next five years, will require the biggest infrastructure works programme ever undertaken at the port, with the entire 83 acre landbank having to be raised by 4.4 metres. The programme will also require the provision of new internal roads and multiple bridge access as well as roundabout access.