Displaying items by tag: car ferry service

5th January 2023

Ferry Service to Rathlin Island Affected As Sailings Cancelled Due to Strike

The passenger car ferry service to Rathlin Island running from Ballycastle on the Antrim coast have been affected due to industrial action with all sailings cancelled today, 5 January.

Operating the route to Northern Ireland's only inhabited island, is Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd which has advised passengers of the disruption on its website which also informs that their office will remain closed.

According to BBC News NI, it understands that employees are striking over pay and conditions.

With a population of around 150, islanders are served by Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure.

In response to the strike, a department spokesperson said it "hopes a resolution to the ongoing dispute can be achieved through negotiations between the employers and the union". They added "Emergency cover will remain in place during the strike period"

BBC News NI has contacted the operator and the trade union Unite.

Usually in January, there are 10 sailings operating per day, with five sailings in each direction and beginning at 08:00 GMT from (Church Bay) Rathlin.

The six-mile journey can take between 25 minutes operating a passenger only fast-craft to 40 minutes using as Afloat adds the 5 car / 1 lorry capacity ferry.

The fast-craft Rathlin Express can take 98 passengers and was introduced in 2009 and the car-ferry Spirit of Rathlin with 125 passengers has been in service since 2017.

Both vessels were custom-built by Arklow Marine Services in Co. Wicklow.

Prior to entering service the newbuild Spirit of Rathlin made a once-off call to Greystones Harbour to carry out vehicle-trials at the slipway.

Published in Ferry

Tagged under

Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat

For the first time in sailing's Olympic history, a Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat event will be on the slate at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat will join kiteboarding, windsurfing, multihulls, singlehanded and doublehanded dinghies and skiffs, promoting the diversity of the sport. This, in turn, will support World Sailing's desire to promote and grow universality in all disciplines and increase female participation with gender-equal medals and athletes.

Offshore sailing is the ultimate test of endurance, skill, discipline, navigation and critical decision making.

Embracing a major part of sailing in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will enable new stars of the sport to come to the forefront.

Qualification

Offshore sailing is a universal discipline that every World Sailing Member National Authority (MNA) can participate in.

Up to 20 nations will be on the start line at Paris 2024 and sailors from every continent will be represented. To qualify for the Olympic Games, continental qualification events will be held and competition for a spot will be hotly contested.

Equipment

For qualification events, World Sailing will approve a list of one-design boats that are already regionally available and can be accessed as a charter boat. Boats will be equalised to ensure fair competition.

For Paris 2024, World Sailing's Council will select a list of different Equipment it considers to meet the key criteria by 31 December 2020 and then make a decision on the Equipment, selecting from the list, no later than 31 December 2023.

MNAs, Class Associations and Manufacturers have all been invited to propose Equipment for the list and a World Sailing Working Party will evaluate each proposal. A recommended list will be presented to Council for approval in November 2020.

This recommended Equipment list will ensure that event organisers, MNAs and the sailors have opportunities to train and compete in Equipment that is readily available and affordable within their continent and country. It will also ensure each MNA has a fair opportunity to prepare for qualification events and eventually, Paris 2024.

Format

Starting and finishing in Marseille, the Mixed Offshore event is expected to last for either three days and two nights or four days and three nights off the French coastline and whoever crosses the finish line first will be declared Olympic champion.

The race course and length will be announced in the lead up to the start so the competition can take advantage of the latest weather forecast. Current options proposed include long and short courses heading towards the West and East of France.

Safety and Security

The French Navy and Mediterranean forces have extensive experience of supporting major oceanic sailing races. They will provide safety and security at Paris 2024.