RMS Lusitania: The Story of a Wreck

The dramatic circumstances surrounding the loss of RMS Lusitania, one of the world’s largest and fastest ocean-going liners of the time, has fascinated maritime historians, underwater archaeologists and the public at large since the ship was…

Families of disaster victims declare deaths were ‘unlawful’

Relatives of the 51 victims of the Betelgeuse oil tanker explosion and fire at Whiddy Island in 1979 are to seek a High Court declaration that the deaths were ‘unlawful’. The certificates currently describe the cause of death of each…

Ireland must ratify the Cape Town Agreement to protect its citizens

Ireland must ratify the Cape Town Agreement for fishing boat safety in international waters and protect its rescue services from unnecessary and sometimes dangerously hazardous long-distance call outs, writes Michael Kingston in the Summer issue…

A life at sea learnt at the National Maritime College of Ireland

The National Maritime College of Ireland is a training and educational centre for the merchant marine and non-military needs of the Irish Naval Service. It comprises specialist survival facilities, seamanship and shipwright workshops, firefighting/damage…

Project to unlock cultural potential of Irish and Welsh ports

A four-year Irish-Welsh project aims to unlock the cultural potential of the ports of Dublin and Rosslare alongside Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke Dock. The research will explore their cultures, traditions and histories to enable their cultural heritages become a driver of economic growth. ‘Ports, Past and Present: Cultural Crossing between Ireland and Walsh’ is a joint initiative with University College Cork and Wexford County Council in Ireland, and Aberystwyth University and the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, in Wales.

Seafest maritime festival heads to the rebel county city

Over 100 free events are listed for the 2019 free maritime festival (June 7-9) at the Port of Cork. An estimated 100,000 visitors are expected on the quays over the three days for talks, demonstrations and maritime events on an off the water. 

RNLI annual nationwide Mayday appeal

Throughout the month of May, the RNLI is asking the public to 'give it some welly' and answer their Mayday fundraising appeal. 

Whiddy Island disaster: 40 years on

In a disaster that should never have happened, the failures that took place on MV Betelgeuse and at the Oil Terminal at Whiddy Island, were some of the worst derelictions of duty in relation to safety in world maritime history, by the tanker owners, Total Oil S.A, the terminal operators, Gulf Oil Corporation, the Irish government, and other world governments.
Coast Guard 2018 stats

Coast guard urges water users to always wear a flotation device

The capacity to raise the alarm and stay afloat is essential to reducing loss of life from drownings at sea or on inland waterways.