Topics

The Baltic Queen has been delivered to Tallink by STX Europe , the ship is expected to enter service in late April on the Tallin - Stockholme service.

The former Sealink ferry Roi Baudouin has been sold to a Turkish breakers yard , however a campagin to save the vessel from breaking is now underway.

The port of Cork has anounced that 54 cruise ships will berth in Cork this year , up from 51 last , there are also some further ships to visit which have yet to be confirmed.

www.linersincobh.com/ is a new website run by Cobh Tourism and has the full arrivals scheduale for 2009 liners , it also has a photo section with pictures and details for all ships. Well worth a look.

This Mediteranian operator has been sold to Comarit , the sale includes 5 ferries but the freight side of the operation is not included and remains with CMA CGM.

The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov has been involved in an incident 50 miles of the Fastnet Rock off Cork , the carrier which is the flagship of the Russian naval fleet was refueling at the time , the L.E. Ashilng is currently on scene with a hired in tug to take samples , an Irish tanker for use during any clean up and a British destroyer , along with the Russian carrier , A Russian destroyer and the Russian refueling ship.

Cork will again be a host port for the 09/10 Clipper Round the World Race , the region will also compete in the event again this year entering its own clipper named Cork.

The Port Of Cork has said it is still to procced with moving its container terminal from Tivoli as they say the current terminal is operating at full capacity and that larger ships had difficulty accessing the terminal.
Plans for the Oyster Bank terminal at Ringaskiddy were rufused planning permission in 2008 primarily due to the lack of rail access and the National Rail operator Ironrod Eireann's refusal to consider linking Ringaskiddy to the national rail network , it is worth noting that Ironrod Eireann is the only European rail operator trying to reduce rail freight volumes at a time when E.U. policy is to increase rail freight volumes.
The Port of Cork is now going to review 12 other sites identified during the initial study.

The DFDS ferry Queen of Scandinavia which has been laid up since the closure of the Newcastle - Bergen route last May has been put out on a short term charter as floating accomadition for construction workers building a nuclear power plant.
It will return from charter in may and will be available for sale.
Found this picture on www.Freefoto.com

The Pont Aven will operate this cruise twice this year in conjunction with Planet Whale and ORCA , the cruise will operate from Plymouth to Santander and returning to Portsmouth through the Biscay Triangle , an area of rich marine wildlife.
The cruise departs on 12th July returning on the 14th and October 4th returning on the 6th , and costs £150 stg per person.
Full details at www.BrittanyFerries.co.uk

This makes interesting reading , some good photographs and charts also , http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources/POC.pdf

This was supposed to commence on Dec 19th connecting Dublin City Center with the O2 theatre , anyone know if its running?

 A team of engineers has been appointed to examine the SS Normadic a 100 year old tender ferry which had the distinction of carrying the first class passengers to the ill-fated RMS Titanic.
The tender was rescued from a french scrapyard two years ago and is now in Belfast where it is hoped to restore the vessel , the cost is estimated at £100stg million.

I noticed there was'nt already a thread like this as we have for the other operators.
Ulysses has left for its anual refit and Dublin - Holyhead service is currently being operated by Isle Of Innismore.
Oscar Wilde is operating the Rosslare - Fishguard service until Isle of Innismore returns from both cover for Ulysses and its own refit , and will then go for its own refit before returning to the Ireland - France service.

The Stena Nordica is to be withdrawn from the Karlskrona - Gdynia route on October 20th due to falling demand for freight caused by the global slowdown.
It is expected that after its own overhaul it will head for Rosslare to take up the Fishguard route to cover the Stena Europe while its in Belfast for refit.
The rumour is that the Stena Nordica may replace the Stena Caladonia at Belfast when the Stena Europe returns to Rosslare.
Word is that the Stena Europe is earmarked for replacment sometime in 2010.

The new Armorique has completed berthing trials at Plymouth and is on its way to Breast for trials via Roscoff.
The Normandie and the Bretagne are both at Gdansk , Poland for refit , the Bretagne of course was the one time Cork - Roscoff ship.

European Endeavour which is currently laid up is expected in Dublin later this month to replace the Norcape.

Below from www.shipspotting.com , the European Endeavour laid uk at Dunkirk , and the Norcape.

The Julia has left Horgans Quay and is now at Ringaskiddy where she will remain until she heads to Swansea for drydocking.

I did'nt realise that we did'nt have a thread for this operator already.
An interesting development to kick off the new thread is that Seatruck Ferries is to launch a new service from Dublin - Heysham , a move obviously prompted by the withdrawl of DFDS Seaways from the route , no word yet on which ship will operate the route which is due to commence in mid febuary.

As part of the redevelopment of Ringaskiddy a new Ro/Ro berth is to be built alongside the existing berth (so the existing terminal can service it along with the existing berth) , the new berth will be 344 meters long , discussion at the moment suggests that the new berth will have a double deck linkspan.
See here for maps ,http://www.portofcork.ie/index.cfm/page/conceptual_drawings

Port of Cork Outlines Potential Plans for Port Development in Ringaskiddy

Thursday 04 April 2013
4th April 2013
Port of Cork Outlines Potential Plans for Port Development in Ringaskiddy
The Port of Cork Company today outlined plans for potential Port development in Ringaskiddy and announced a number of key dates for public information days.
The proposed developments are the first phase of the implementation of the Port of Cork's Strategic Development Plan Review (2010), the core principles of which were endorsed in the recently launched National Ports Policy. This Policy has also identified the continued commercial development of the Port of Cork Company as a key strategic objective.
The proposed developments for consideration are an extension to the existing Port of Cork facilities at Ringaskiddy and may comprise of three main elements:
•          A container terminal and multi-purpose berth to the east side of Ringaskiddy Basin;
•          An extension to the existing deep-water berth and creation of additional cargo storage areas by reclamation to the west side of Ringaskiddy Basin;
•          Improvements to the existing road entrance to the Ringaskiddy Deep-water Terminal to provide alternative access to the remainder of the port complex and associated road realignments.
The expanded facilities will facilitate, on a phased basis, the Port of Cork in transferring cargo handling activities from Tivoli and City Quays in due course. This will unlock significant opportunity for sustainable mixed use development in Cork City which is a key objective of the overall CASP Strategy. The Port of Cork is aiming to lodge a planning application with An Bord Pleanala in the third quarter of this year.
Speaking about the proposed developments, Mr Denis Healy, Manager Engineering Services, Port of Cork said: "In order to continue to cater for future growth within the Port of Cork and to provide efficient and cost effective port services for Munster businesses, we are currently engaged in pre-application discussions and would hope to lodge a planning application with An Bord Pleanala in the third quarter of this year."
Mr Healy also outlined the specific drivers for this port development as;
•          Current Navigational and Landside Constraints at Tivoli Container Terminal
•          Need to Develop a New Deep-water Container Terminal capable of efficiently servicing Larger and Deeper Drafted Vessels
•          Overcome Berthing and Landside Capacity Constraints at Ringaskiddy Deep-water Terminal
•          Provide Certainty for all Stakeholders that Consolidated Replacement Facilities can be provided.
•          Maximise the Utilisation of Existing Port Assets and Locations
•          Need for Port to respond to changing Trade and Logistics Dynamics
•          Flexibility to Respond to Needs as they arise in a Financially Sustainable Manner
He continued: "The Port of Cork is a key link to the economic success of Ireland, in particular the entire Munster region. 98% of goods imported or exported from Ireland are moved by ship, highlighting the importance of ports to our economy. The Port of Cork must continue to develop the Port in order to meet the needs of the Country in the short, medium and long-term."
The Port of Cork has organised a number of Public Information days to allow interested parties around Cork Harbour to gain an understanding of the port's proposed plans for development, but more importantly to avail the public of an opportunity to give feedback for consideration by the Port.
Dates and venues for the public information days will take place as follows:
•          Fota Island Golf Clubhouse - Thursday, 11 April from 4pm – 8pm
•          Carrigaline Court Hotel - Friday, 12 April from 2pm – 8pm AND Saturday, 13 April from 10am – 2pm
Further information can be found on www.portofcork.ie
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Sara Mackeown
Commercial Marketing Executive
Port of Cork Company
Custom House Street
Cork
Ireland
Tel: +353 (0) 21 4625 375
Mobile: +353 (0) 86 1044011
Fax: +353 (0) 21 4276 484
www.portofcork.ie
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