Topics

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/the-man-who-bought-a-cruise-ship-on-craigslist/index.html

Interesting read about a guy who bought an old cruise liner in 2008.

Viking Lines new ferry Viking Glory is due to enter service on 1st March on the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route. She,ll replace the veteran Amorella on the route.

Background information and video of her first arrival in Turku https://www.offshore-energy.biz/climate-smart-viking-glory-completes-journey-home/

We,re heading to Stockholm for a few days in late May so hoping to get a chance to photograph her and fingers crossed maybe even take a short trip.

Happy Christmas to everyone whether at home, away or on the high seas. Hope it's a safe one for all. Special greetings and thanks to Kieran and the mods.


Christmas window display at Brittany Ferries office on Grand Parade, Cork.

New shipping route linking Eemshaven in the Netherlands with Kristiansand in Norway. 3 round trips per week with departures at 14.00 and arriving at 9.00. The ship mentioned on their website is Tallink's Romantika.
https://hollandnorwaylines.com/

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40348199.html

5 page feature in the June edition of Ships Monthly regarding the changes and additional services on the Irish seas routes since January this year.

Great pic of Blue Star 1 on the cover

 

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/brittany-ferries-plots-recovery-after-dreadful-year-1.4514670

BF Ireland to France & Spain passenger numbers down from 120,193 in 2018/19 to 19,822 in 2019/20

"A fire on board MSC Lirica, which seems to be originated in an empty lifeboat on deck 6, was reported to the emergency services earlier today in Corfu where the ship is currently in warm layup," MSC said"

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2021/03/12/msc-lirica-cruise-ship-goes-up-flames-while-docked-corfu-greece/4663218001/

10 page feature on 200 years of passenger shipping from UK to Republic of Ireland in the April issue of "Shipping Today and Yesterday"
Isle of Inishfree on the cover and full page pics of St Killian 2 and Oscar Wilde.

Edit Theres also a full page on the new direct services from Ireland to Europe

BBC Radio 4 documentary about ship breaking in South East Asia

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000sqlt

Cork pilot boat in rough seas last weekend.

https://youtu.be/yv1m1MU6hPc

Major fire has broken out at R&H Hall warehouse at Ringaskiddy port

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-40203833.html

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2021/0109/1188637-cork-port-fire/

Its been a very strange year for us all but here's wishing that everyone has a happy and safe Christmas. Special greetings and thanks to Kieran and the mods for their continuing good work.

Almost 2 months to the day that her fleetmate Amorella went aground Viking Lines Viking Grace has gone aground at Mariehamn  in the Aland Islands. Everyone on board is safe and are remaining on board overnight whilst the situation is assessed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55029358

https://youtu.be/qY0BZMYIeoA

[Direct Ferries to the Continent must be sailing by January ? IRHA]

Direct Ferries to the Continent must be sailing by January ? IRHA
Eugene Drennan, President of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has stated that the current efficiency of a Landbridge route to the European Continent cannot now be regarded as a reliable option for Irish hauliers post-Brexit. 
In an extensive interview with Pat Kenny on Newstalk radio this week, IRHA President Eugene Drennan said the Government must now provide assistance to put regular direct ferries connecting Ireland with mainland Europe. He informed listeners about the practical problems that will face importers and exporters when Britain leaves the European Union (EU) at the end of December. Brexit will effect importers and exporters on two levels. In the first instance tariffs may be imposed by both the EU and the UK, this may in some cases determine if a company can survive in the new environment. In the second instance the logistics of importing and exporting come into the spotlight.
This is where the IRHA is concerned for their members as hold ups and delays will effect truck movements between Ireland and the UK, creating cost, that someone must bear. Trucks going and coming from mainland Europe will likely become caught up in these delays at ferry ports, in spite of assurances to the contrary. Direct ferries will be necessary if the country, importers and exporters is to be spared significant delays to supply chains.

https://fleet.ie/direct-ferries-to-the-continent-must-be-sailing-by-january-irha/

Viking Lines Amorella has gone aground on a trip from Turku in Finland to Stockholm. All passengers and crew are safe.



https://youtu.be/aWSmCdzSedA

Today Saga Sapphire became the first of over 100 scheduled cruise ships due to call to Cork harbour this year. She was originally due to berth at Cobh but because of safety precautions in place resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic she berthed at the deep water berth at Ringaskiddy. She departed at 13.30 for Portland, Dorset in the UK. Here's a few pics







Full list of call from Port of Cork website https://www.portofcork.ie/index.cfm/page/cruiseschedule2010

The 80 metres/250 feet boat named 'The Alta' is a cargo vessel that was abandoned in South East Bermuda in October 2018. The boat was then spotted off the coast of West Africa in September 2019 and has been wandering the seas before coming ashore in Ballycotton during Storm Dennis.



https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2020/0216/1115669-cargo-ship-cork/

https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/Latest-Ghost-ship-on-the-rocks-in-Ballycotton-had-been-drifting-for-more-than-a-year-75081ddd-0705-430d-8654-18d4f88d7f93-ds

https://amp.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/company-hopes-to-revive-15m-commuter-ferry-plans-for-cork-harbour-and-city-977616.html?__twitter_impression=true

Plans for a €15m commuter and tourist ferry network in Cork Harbour, which will create up to 70 jobs, are to be lodged with local authorities shortly. A group of private investors are aiming to have the tourist ferry service operational by next year and the commuter service up and running in 2022. The new service will serve communities all along the harbour shores, including Crosshaven, Aghada, Cobh, Monkstown, Passage West, and on up to Blackrock, the new Docklands, and onto the city quays.

We're currently visiting my daughter in New Zealand. We spent a few days in Wellington over the new year before crossing the Cook Strait to the south island. Plenty time for photographing the various ships on the Cook Strait. To start with here's a few from New Years Eve of Stena Feronia arriving at Wellington in the late afternnon.











Straitman at the berth in Wellington New Years Eve


More here https://flic.kr/s/aHsmKxY2Nt and lots more to come as and when time permits!