Adequacy of Irish Ports

[Laners]

Rosslare is in talks for a direct continental Europe ferry service

https://twitter.com/rosslarehbr/stat...220953089?s=21

They all ready have 5 continental sailings a week , 2 to Spain and 3 to France and an additional France sailing next March .

[DeV]

They all ready have 5 continental sailings a week , 2 to Spain and 3 to France and an additional France sailing next March .

Increased capacity is a good thing

[Laners]

Increased capacity is a good thing

There's sufficient capacity at the moment and plenty of laid up tonnage to fill in when needed, what the hauliers are looking for is a service to La Havre or Calais because of the better rail and road links and being closer to Holland , Belgium and Germany .

[na grohmiti]

There's sufficient capacity at the moment and plenty of laid up tonnage to fill in when needed, what the hauliers are looking for is a service to La Havre or Calais because of the better rail and road links and being closer to Holland , Belgium and Germany .

The only advantage of the UK landbridge was being able to bypass the huge motorway tolls in France. Some of the East coast runs landed you right in the heart of Rotterdam.
Roscoff is the Clifden of France. Hours from everywhere (a days drive from the French border with everywhere else on the Continent) and Cherbourg is not on the French Autoroute network, with a long haul of poor quality dual carriageway without hard shoulder for most of the route until you manage to Negotiate the Caen ring road. Still six hours drive to the Border, if you are lucky. At that point you must park up because your tacho will be checked once you leave the french autoroute, and you have used your hours waiting to get off the ferry.

[ancientmariner]

There's sufficient capacity at the moment and plenty of laid up tonnage to fill in when needed, what the hauliers are looking for is a service to La Havre or Calais because of the better rail and road links and being closer to Holland , Belgium and Germany .

Like many states Ireland does not have an Irish Flagged fleet of critical type merchant ships. All exigencies must be covered by other carriers through negotiation and payment with certain quid pro quo's. By passing the UK land bridge is expedient but certainty could only be achieved if a national carrier could be established like the Old ICL, an off shoot of the OLD ISL . We are an Island and the need is obvious but I suppose the powers that be will assume the Industries and hauliers will fix it to survive.

[ancientmariner]

Like many states Ireland does not have an Irish Flagged fleet of critical type merchant ships. All exigencies must be covered by other carriers through negotiation and payment with certain quid pro quo's. By passing the UK land bridge is expedient but certainty could only be achieved if a national carrier could be established like the Old ICL, an off shoot of the OLD ISL . We are an Island and the need is obvious but I suppose the powers that be will assume the Industries and hauliers will fix it to survive.

Looking at a "Nationwide" programme on the development of Irish Airports, principally Dublin's Terminal Building and Runway system, the usual suspect turned up who also founded ISL and it's fleet, and provided it with a drydock in Cork-SEAN LEMASS. I am sure that our National infrastructure at any level will never be provided unless driven by Government supported projects. Port's designed for exclusive needs tend to die suddenly when the materials associated shift elsewhere or die out. Just an aside in 32 years of navy we never used Rosslare " no berth available". Too many Ports are being re-jigged to suit private enterprise. Just in case somebody mentions it. Rosslare was used during the Aer Lingus Tuskar disaster.

[na grohmiti]

Rosslare was used for a Medal parade in recent years for one of the Med Operations. Having it in Rosslare, on a Saturday meant the Minister for state didn't have to leave his constituency, and he'd be all over the local papers with the well turned out Navy Folk.

To hell with GoH and the all the families though, who had to travel to the arse end of Ireland on a Saturday morning to polish a Parish Pump Politician's ego. Nearest hotel 20 miles away, no worthwhile dining facility capable of catering for large crowds nearby.

Pretty sure the ship had to move off the berth as soon as the next ferry was due.

[ancientmariner]

Rosslare was used for a Medal parade in recent years for one of the Med Operations. Having it in Rosslare, on a Saturday meant the Minister for state didn't have to leave his constituency, and he'd be all over the local papers with the well turned out Navy Folk.

To hell with GoH and the all the families though, who had to travel to the arse end of Ireland on a Saturday morning to polish a Parish Pump Politician's ego. Nearest hotel 20 miles away, no worthwhile dining facility capable of catering for large crowds nearby.

Pretty sure the ship had to move off the berth as soon as the next ferry was due.

Thanks for that reminder. It got a picture in the Press. There has been many studies reports on Irish Harbours, even lately by Government Agencies including Dept. of Transport. However the one done by the Offshore Energy Group IPORES 2018 is well worth a read. It lists and surveys ALL our ports and lists them under categories A and B. Category A are those ports ready to service and Build wind Turbines and category B can give lesser assists to the Industry. It concentrates on water depths and harbour facilities and piers. It sees only Dublin, Cork, and Shannon as Category A. It revealed to me for the first time what might be underweigh at DSG Cork Dockyard.
They find the facility suitable for all aspects of construction and assembly of wind Turbines with access for super cranes and an adjacent drydock. They also promote the New Bremore East Coast deepwater port. In the overall it will be harder for the Navy to drydock it's ships ASAP rather join the queue. The other interesting thing is that the self built Roadstone port off Arklow must be still available for development.

[CTU]

I remember seeing one of the P40s bearthed at the old Seacat berth in Rosslare, when I travelled on a night sailing from there a few years ago.

[sofa]

Looking at a "Nationwide" programme on the development of Irish Airports, principally Dublin's Terminal Building and Runway system, the usual suspect turned up who also founded ISL and it's fleet, and provided it with a drydock in Cork-SEAN LEMASS. I am sure that our National infrastructure at any level will never be provided unless driven by Government supported projects. Port's designed for exclusive needs tend to die suddenly when the materials associated shift elsewhere or die out. Just an aside in 32 years of navy we never used Rosslare " no berth available". Too many Ports are being re-jigged to suit private enterprise. Just in case somebody mentions it. Rosslare was used during the Aer Lingus Tuskar disaster.

You have anchored the sweepers in the harbour in the eighties if I recall.?

[ancientmariner]

You have anchored the sweepers in the harbour in the eighties if I recall.?

yes we used the outer anchorage for all our ships in gales from South, clockwise to NNW. There was never a routine or recreational use of berths due to unavailability for overnight use.

[A/TEL]

I remember seeing one of the P40s bearthed at the old Seacat berth in Rosslare, when I travelled on a night sailing from there a few years ago.

I was alongside Rosslare overnight on many occasions on the P40s and P22.

Rare that we were required to move for commercial vessels.

Most of times on P40s was the Fishermans Berth

[na grohmiti]

Larger ship moved onto USA-Cork route.

Independent Container Line (ICL) ‘Independent Quest’ arriving into #Corkharbour. This vessel has more capacity than the previous vessel servicing the direct route from Cork to the US. Great to see confidence in this service from importers and exporters. Footage by @captainbob76 pic.twitter.com/swyx3jJmfg

— Port of Cork #Keepingtheshowontheroad (@PortofCork) October 17, 2020

[Laners]

Larger ship moved onto USA-Cork route.

Independent Container Line (ICL) ‘Independent Quest’ arriving into #Corkharbour. This vessel has more capacity than the previous vessel servicing the direct route from Cork to the US. Great to see confidence in this service from importers and exporters. Footage by @captainbob76 pic.twitter.com/swyx3jJmfg

— Port of Cork #Keepingtheshowontheroad (@PortofCork) October 17, 2020

Or maybe she had to ship a lot of containers from Antwerp and Portsmouth to the US, her other ports before Cork .

[ancientmariner]

Or maybe she had to ship a lot of containers from Antwerp and Portsmouth to the US, her other ports before Cork .

No fuss . They only have 4 ships with one having a Container capacity of 2568 boxes and three around 3000 boxes. They are essentially all the same. They advertise Antwerp to Cork as a short sea trade route of 3 days and then on to Chester/ Wilmington in USA. They are around 2007 vintage German Flagged, paper speed 20 knots, service speed about 16.5 knots. Big box boats carry 18,000 plus boxes and a few over 20,000 boxes. This service is running since June 2020.

[ancientmariner]

Looking at a "Nationwide" programme on the development of Irish Airports, principally Dublin's Terminal Building and Runway system, the usual suspect turned up who also founded ISL and it's fleet, and provided it with a drydock in Cork-SEAN LEMASS. I am sure that our National infrastructure at any level will never be provided unless driven by Government supported projects. Port's designed for exclusive needs tend to die suddenly when the materials associated shift elsewhere or die out. Just an aside in 32 years of navy we never used Rosslare " no berth available". Too many Ports are being re-jigged to suit private enterprise. Just in case somebody mentions it. Rosslare was used during the Aer Lingus Tuskar disaster.

Today the RNLI are noting that their operations, specifically Courtmacsherry pontoon and harbour, are being hindered by a build up of silt and debris. The State used to have dredgers in their OPW stable all gone now to maritime heritage and history. The harbour at Ring, beloved by Army cadets, is also filling up and hindering leisure and fishing activities. It is also claimed that silting in coastal rivers is a factor in flooding upstream in towns. It is a grindingly slow process to initiate action as the matter was raised 4 years ago and at this time " Foreshore Licences have to be applied for to undertake required work". It seems OPW wise that there is lack of oversight of Harbour health and functionality. Everything works post factum or gets abandoned to nature.

[ancientmariner]

Increased capacity is a good thing

Today Cork Port management have submitted a plan to Cork County Council and government for a spur road from Jack Lynch Tunnel to " Their " land at the Tivoli Terminal. It is to underpin their Plan to Develop Tivoli Terminal to Cork City quays with a variety of modern development buildings. A number of questions arises. Who will pay for the road. Who owns the land from Tivoli to Cork. Who sanctions the change of use of harbour lands. What is being done to replace the LOST quay space and its hinterland and storage, throughout City Quays.
How much did the Port Authority pay for the land bank at Ringaskiddy. Were the DOD compensated for the loss of the land adjacent to Black Prince pier, where Ringaskiddy now stands. Who owns all of the Harbour lands still in control of Port Authority and does the STATE have any say in its good order and use. Finally who is to gain financially for the Tivoli Development and additionally the Marino Point terminal.

[na grohmiti]

Fantastic to see this happening. Given our history with Appledore, it would be nice to see someday an Irish naval vessel fabricated in Appledore, then assembled and fitted out in the historic H&W.

The wait is over!

We're proud to release our highly anticipated Harland & Wolff short film.#MadeinBelfast #MadeinAppledore pic.twitter.com/HAwRLz6Suo

— Harland & Wolff (@Harland_Wolff1) November 12, 2020

[ancientmariner]

[QUOTE=na grohmiti;482065]Fantastic to see this happening. Given our history with Appledore, it would be nice to see someday an Irish naval vessel fabricated in Appledore, then assembled and fitted out in the historic H&W.

Yes. We should use an all island approach if we can reach a working relationship with HW workers.
The IRISH MARITIME DIRECTOTATE is doing a review into total maritime area infrastructure covering all key areas. There is an info document on facebook and a link requesting comment before 11th December. I have made a submission on the first 4 CORE key areas as the remainder are communications and interlinking of actors. Perhaps others might make a submission.

[DeV]

Rosslare Europort is getting a 6 times a week (utilising 3 DFDS vessels) to Dunkirk

[na grohmiti]

Rosslare Europort is getting a 6 times a week (utilising 3 DFDS vessels) to Dunkirk

Trucks only or all traffic? If the latter it's a handy route to the Somme, Ypres and Ardennes battlefields, instead of fly and drive or ferry to France and hours of motorway.

[DeV]

Trucks only or all traffic? If the latter it's a handy route to the Somme, Ypres and Ardennes battlefields, instead of fly and drive or ferry to France and hours of motorway.

Trucks only

[ancientmariner]

Trucks only

Yes trucks with drivers and any passengers they are co-driving. This highlights our lack of self sufficiency and our dependency on other national carriers. In 1939 Lemass saw our need to be independent and conjured up, over time , close to 20 deepsea vessels to meet our needs of imported goods. What with growing imported Power and no ships of any consequence, we may only survive as the highest bidder.

[ancientmariner]

Yes trucks with drivers and any passengers they are co-driving. This highlights our lack of self sufficiency and our dependency on other national carriers. In 1939 Lemass saw our need to be independent and conjured up, over time , close to 20 deepsea vessels to meet our needs of imported goods. What with growing imported Power and no ships of any consequence, we may only survive as the highest bidder.

Doyle Shipping group are taking on a further 250 staff to deal with BREXIT shipping contingencies ( 100 in Dublin port ) Hope pressure on space at Cork Drydock Yard won't impinge on drydock availability.

[EUFighter]

Here we go again, Bremore Port is again in the news.

https://www.businesspost.ie/construc...meath-d95fc65e