Displaying items by tag: Milford Waterfront development

29th August 2018

Public Approval of Welsh Port Performance Strengthens Amid Economic Worries

Attendees at annual stakeholder meeting of the south Wales Port of Milford Haven where the port at Pembroke has a ferry service connecting Ireland through Rosslare Harbour.

#Ports&Shipping - Residents and businesses in south Wales have expressed increased approval of the Port of Milford Haven’s performance over the last year, in the latest annual survey carried out on behalf of the Pembrokeshire port.

When asked how the Port was performing against their overall expectations, 85% of respondents responded positively, which is a 3% increase from last year and 17% increase over 2 years.

The impact of port operations and their influence on Pembrokeshire appears to be felt deeper into the hinterland than in previous years with nearly a third of respondents motivated to take part coming from inland areas away from the traditional port communities.

Other shifts in public perception include a further swing behind the Port’s strategy to promote renewable energy industry in Pembrokeshire, with an 8% increase in support (to 83%).

The Port magazine Onboard, which goes out to homes and businesses along the Waterway has grown in influence over the three years since its launch. It is now cited as the second most useful form of communication coming from the Port.

A recurring theme, reflecting the economic uncertainty felt in Pembrokeshire at the moment, was a call for the Port to continue to play a leading role in promoting and supporting new business opportunities on the Waterway with 90% in support. (See coverage on Milford Waterfront) Respondents also put forward a broad range of suggestions for how the Port should be investing in a way that attracts new trade and investment and supports communities and local interest groups.

“The responses underline how important it is for us to remain a strong business so that we can fulfil the role of a Trust Port, nurturing economic activity and communities around the Waterway,” said Alec Don, Chief Executive of the Port of Milford Haven. “It’s clear a busy working port is good for the county and good for the nation too,” he added. “We take that responsibility very seriously and need to work with our partners to ensure we remain a principle agent for economic growth and prosperity in Pembrokeshire.”

The full Stakeholder Survey Report can be read on the Port’s website www.mhpa.co.uk/stakeholder-survey

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Cruiseship Caller to Welsh Port Anchors off Marina Marking Busy Cruise Season

First-generation cruiseship, the Finnish built 28,518grt M/S Albatros which is due to dock in Dublin Port tomorrow is firstly calling to the south Wales port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire today. The cruiseship dating to 1973 is anchored close to the marina at Milford Waterfront where there are plans for a multi-million development.

#CruiseLiners - A cruiseship that is due to Dublin Port tomorrow is at the time of writing entering the deepwater south Wales port of Milford Haven this afternoon.

The German cruiseship Albatros will become the first caller in Milford Haven this year. The port is expecting a busy cruise season with a further two callers scheduled this month bringing over 1,000 passengers to the area, and an additional six calls planned between July and September.

Albatros is notable for the bright turquoise funnel rising above the white ship. The cruiseship embarked passengers in Bremerhaven, Germany for a cruise around Britain and arrives at Milford Haven this morning and is to anchore at Milford Shelf (just outside Milford Marina) until 8pm.

The next port of call as alluded is Dublin Port. Afloat adds that the elegant first-generation cruiseship operated by Pheonix Reisen has been allocated a berth at Ocean Pier. The 28,000 gross tonnage cruiseship has called to the capital before and other Irish Sea ports having entered service in 1973.

Returning to the team at Milford Waterfront, including port staff, local businesses and entertainers will be on the quayside to extend a warm Welsh welcome as visitors come ashore.

On Sunday, ‘Silver Cloud’ will call at Pembroke Port (the ferryport is also located in the Haven). Shortly after that, on 20th May, ‘MV Seabourn Quest’ will call into Milford Haven. This is a luxury cruiseship offering award-winning dining experiences and high end décor. The call willl be part of a 15-day tour of the British Isles and Iceland.

For passengers choosing to stay in Milford Haven, there is an expanding range of things to do. From a visit to Milford Museum, a bite to eat at one of many cafes and restaurents in Milford Waterfront (see related development story) or a spot of retail therapy along the promenade and in the town centre.

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South Wales Port's Amended Masterplan Submitted for Milford Waterfront Development

Four Floatel Cabins will be constructed within the marina at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire later this year

#Ports&Shipping - The south Wales Port of Milford Haven (related story) has submitted a revised master plan to Pembrokeshire County Council for its multi-million pound Milford Waterfront development.

The Port received a resolution to grant planning consent in 2015 and since then work has been ongoing to finalise the details for the five phases of development. A significant milestone has been achieved with regards to the location of the new access following approval from Welsh Government, enabling the listed building currently occupied by a vets practice to be retained.

The previous plans were centred largely around a retail development but as a result of market changes the development will now be leisure-led and the food retail store has been replaced with a large indoor leisure facility, offering an interactive digitally-led experience for all ages which will be open all year round.

A second upmarket hotel has been added in line with the desire to create a leisure and tourist destination and a high quality restaurant on stilts is envisaged for the north end of the marina, which can be accessed from the marina or from the quayside. The dry dock will no longer be in-filled, but instead used for private berthing alongside new residential accommodation overlooking the marina and Haven.

Opposite the entrance to Milford Waterfront the Quay Stores building will be redeveloped, bringing a listed building back into use. The link between the town’s train station and Havens Head Retail Park will also be landscaped to create a welcoming experience for visiting rail passengers and safe access to the marina.

Neil Jenkins, Development Director at the Port of Milford Haven, said “We have worked hard on fine-tuning the plans over the past couple of years to ensure they are in line with market trends and are confident that we’re now in a position to deliver a fantastic development in a unique waterfront setting which will provide huge economic benefits to the Pembrokeshire and Welsh economies.”

He added “Work has already started on site for a new Costa Coffee Drive-Thru at Milford Waterfront, a new visitor centre has been opened within the museum and later this year we’ll be launching a new holiday let overlooking the Haven as well as four Floatel Cabins in the marina with terraces overlooking the water. It’s an exciting time for the area and we look forward to receiving feedback from the local authority.”

The Milford Waterfront development is set to create over 700 jobs during the construction and operational phases and result in an additional £9 million in visitor spend.

The planning application can be viewed on Pembrokeshire County Council’s website at www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

For more details about Milford Waterfront visit www.milfordwaterfront.co.uk

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Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

From the Baily lighthouse to Dalkey island, the bay accommodates six separate courses for 21 different classes racing every two years for the Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

In assembling its record-breaking armada, Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta (VDLR) became, at its second staging, not only the country's biggest sailing event, with 3,500 sailors competing, but also one of Ireland's largest participant sporting events.

One of the reasons for this, ironically, is that competitors across Europe have become jaded by well-worn venue claims attempting to replicate Cowes and Cork Week.'Never mind the quality, feel the width' has been a criticism of modern-day regattas where organisers mistakenly focus on being the biggest to be the best. Dun Laoghaire, with its local fleet of 300 boats, never set out to be the biggest. Its priority focussed instead on quality racing even after it got off to a spectacularly wrong start when the event was becalmed for four days at its first attempt.

The idea to rekindle a combined Dublin bay event resurfaced after an absence of almost 40 years, mostly because of the persistence of a passionate race officer Brian Craig who believed that Dun Laoghaire could become the Cowes of the Irish Sea if the town and the local clubs worked together. Although fickle winds conspired against him in 2005, the support of all four Dun Laoghaire waterfront yacht clubs since then (made up of Dun Laoghaire Motor YC, National YC, Royal Irish YC and Royal St GYC), in association with the two racing clubs of Dublin Bay SC and Royal Alfred YC, gave him the momentum to carry on.

There is no doubt that sailors have also responded with their support from all four coasts. Running for four days, the regatta is (after the large mini-marathons) the single most significant participant sports event in the country, requiring the services of 280 volunteers on and off the water, as well as top international race officers and an international jury, to resolve racing disputes representing five countries. A flotilla of 25 boats regularly races from the Royal Dee near Liverpool to Dublin for the Lyver Trophy to coincide with the event. The race also doubles as a RORC qualifying race for the Fastnet.

Sailors from the Ribble, Mersey, the Menai Straits, Anglesey, Cardigan Bay and the Isle of Man have to travel three times the distance to the Solent as they do to Dublin Bay. This, claims Craig, is one of the major selling points of the Irish event and explains the range of entries from marinas as far away as Yorkshire's Whitby YC and the Isle of Wight.

No other regatta in the Irish Sea area can claim to have such a reach. Dublin Bay Weeks such as this petered out in the 1960s, and it has taken almost four decades for the waterfront clubs to come together to produce a spectacle on and off the water to rival Cowes."The fact that we are getting such numbers means it is inevitable that it is compared with Cowes," said Craig. However, there the comparison ends."We're doing our own thing here. Dun Laoghaire is unique, and we are making an extraordinary effort to welcome visitors from abroad," he added. The busiest shipping lane in the country – across the bay to Dublin port – closes temporarily to facilitate the regatta and the placing of six separate courses each day.

A fleet total of this size represents something of an unknown quantity on the bay as it is more than double the size of any other regatta ever held there.

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta FAQs

What is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Ireland's biggest sailing event. It is held every second Summer at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay.

When is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is held every two years, typically in the first weekend of July.

Where is Dun Laoghaire Regatta held?

As its name suggests, the event is based at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Racing is held on Dublin Bay over as many as six different courses with a coastal route that extends out into the Irish Sea. Ashore, the festivities are held across the town but mostly in the four organising yacht clubs.

How big is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is the largest sailing regatta in Ireland and on the Irish Sea and the second largest in the British Isles. It has a fleet of 500 competing boats and up to 3,000 sailors. Scotland's biggest regatta on the Clyde is less than half the size of the Dun Laoghaire event. After the Dublin city marathon, the regatta is one of the most significant single participant sporting events in the country in terms of Irish sporting events.

How old is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The modern Dublin Bay Regatta began in 2005, but it owes its roots to earlier combined Dublin Bay Regattas of the 1960s.

How many boats compete at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Up to 500 boats regularly compete.

How many yacht clubs are represented at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Up to 70 different yacht clubs are represented.

Where do the yachts come from to compete at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The Channel Islands, Isle of Man, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland countrywide, and Dublin clubs.

How many boats are visiting boats at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Nearly half the sailors, over 1,000, travel to participate from outside of Dun Laoghaire and from overseas to race and socialise in Dun Laoghaire.

What type of yachts race in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

21 different classes are competing at Dun Laoghaire Regatta. As well as four IRC Divisions from 50-footers down to 20-foot day boats and White Sails, there are also extensive one-design keelboat and dinghy fleets to include all the fleets that regularly race on the Bay such as Beneteau 31.7s, Ruffian 23s, Sigma 33s as well as Flying Fifteens, Laser SB20s plus some visiting fleets such as the RS Elites from Belfast Lough to name by one.

What famous sailors race in Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Some sailing household names are regular competitors at the biennial Dun Laoghaire event including Dun Laoghaire Olympic silver medalist, Annalise Murphy. International sailing stars are competing too such as Mike McIntyre, a British Olympic Gold medalist and a raft of World and European class champions.

How much does it cost to enter Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

There are different entry fees for different size boats. A 40-foot yacht will pay up to €550, but a 14-foot dinghy such as Laser will pay €95. Full entry fee details are contained in the Regatta Notice of Race document.

Where can spectators view Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Spectators can see the boats racing on six courses from any vantage point on the southern shore of Dublin Bay. As well as from the Harbour walls itself, it is also possible to see the boats from Sandycove, Dalkey and Killiney, especially when the boats compete over inshore coastal courses or have in-harbour finishes.

How does Dun Laoghaire regatta compare to international regattas?

Very favourably. It is often compared to Cowes, Britain's biggest regatta on the Isle of Wight that has 1,000 entries. However, sailors based in the north of England have to travel three times the distance to get to Cowes as they do to Dun Laoghaire.

Why is Dun Laoghaire Regatta so unique?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is unique because of its compact site offering four different yacht clubs within the harbour and the race tracks' proximity, just a five-minute sail from shore. International sailors also speak of its international travel connections and being so close to Dublin city. The regatta also prides itself on balancing excellent competition with good fun ashore.

Who organises Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The Organising Authority (OA) of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Dublin Bay Regattas Ltd, a not-for-profit company, beneficially owned by Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC), National Yacht Club (NYC), Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC) and Royal St George Yacht Club (RSGYC).

What does Dun Laoghaire Regatta contribute to the local economy?

The Irish Marine Federation launched a case study on the 2009 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta's socio-economic significance. Over four days, the study (carried out by Irish Sea Marine Leisure Knowledge Network) found the event was worth nearly €3million to the local economy over the four days of the event. Typically the Royal Marine Hotel and Haddington Hotel and other local providers are fully booked for the event.