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Samskip a global logistics operator, has accelerated in expanding usage of biofuels in its shipping fleet, among them the 800TEU container vessel Samskip Endeavour which operates Amsterdam-Dublin, with the ship observed by Afloat taking anchorage in Dublin Bay this afternoon.

Initially starting with a 50% biofuel blend in the first half 2021 and switching to 100% biofuel after the summer period, the Samskip Endeavour was able to achieve a CO2 saving of 12.000 tons in 2021.

According to the Dutch operator based in Rotterdam, the ship has achieved a saving of more than 70% of CO2 emission when compared to traditional fuels. This translates into unburdening 200.000 trees from absorbing these emissions from the atmosphere over the course of ten years.

‘’Reducing fuel emissions and consumption is a critical next step for the maritime transport industry, so we are incredibly proud to lead this transition and to offer our customers a sustainable solution. Our efforts to provide green and clean shipping will only increase in the coming months and years,’’ says Ólafur Orri Ólafsson, Head of Sustainable Development at Samskip.

In 2018, the Samskip Endeavour was the first ever vessel to be biofuel-bunkered by the company’s longtime partner GoodShipping. These biofuels, which find their origin from fossil-free sustainable waste streams, have proved to be a successful substitute for conventional marine fuels, and can be used without making any modifications to the vessel’s engine.

Samskip was originally founded in Iceland in 1990 and since then has consistently grown by also offering transport and related services by land, rail and air. They have offices in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Published in Ports & Shipping

The Kingstown to Queenstown Yacht Race or 'K2Q', previously the Fastnet 450

The Organising Authority ("OA") are ISORA & SCORA in association with The National Yacht Club & The Royal Cork Yacht Club.

The Kingstown to Queenstown Race (K2Q Race) is a 260-mile offshore race that will start in Dun Laoghaire (formerly Kingstown), around the famous Fastnet Rock and finish in Cork Harbour at Cobh (formerly Queenstown).

The  K2Q race follows from the successful inaugural 'Fastnet 450 Race' that ran in 2020 when Ireland was in the middle of the COVID Pandemic. It was run by the National Yacht Club, and the Royal cork Yacht Club were both celebrating significant anniversaries. The clubs combined forces to mark the 150th anniversary of the National Yacht Club and the 300th (Tricentenary) of the Royal Cork Yacht Club.

Of course, this race has some deeper roots. In 1860 the first-ever ocean yacht race on Irish Waters was held from Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) to Queenstown (now Cobh).

It is reported that the winner of the race was paid a prize of £15 at the time, and all competing boats got a bursary of 10/6 each. The first race winner was a Schooner Kingfisher owned by Cooper Penrose Esq. The race was held on July 14th 1860, and had sixteen boats racing.

In 2022, the winning boat will be awarded the first prize of a cheque for €15 mounted and framed and a Trophy provided by the Royal Cork Yacht Club, the oldest yacht club in the world.

The 2022 race will differ from the original course because it will be via the Fastnet Rock, so it is a c. 260m race, a race distance approved by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club as an AZAB qualifier. 

A link to an Afloat article written by WM Nixon for some history on this original race is here.

The aim is to develop the race similarly to the Dun Laoghaire–Dingle Race that runs in alternate years. 

Fastnet 450 in 2020

The South Coast of Ireland Racing Association, in association with the National Yacht Club on Dublin Bay and the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Cork, staged the first edition of this race from Dun Laoghaire to Cork Harbour via the Fastnet Rock on August 22nd 2020.

The IRC race started in Dun Laoghaire on Saturday, August 22nd 2020. It passed the Muglin, Tuscar, Conningbeg and Fastnet Lighthouses to Starboard before returning to Cork Harbour and passing the Cork Buoy to Port, finishing when Roches's Point bears due East. The course was specifically designed to be of sufficient length to qualify skippers and crew for the RORC Fastnet Race 2021.

At A Glance – K2Q (Kingstown to Queenstown) Race 2024

The third edition of this 260-nautical mile race starts from the National Yacht Club on Dublin Bay on July 12th 2024 finishes in Cork Harbour.

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