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Guest Writer2015-04-22 08:06:142019-02-15 15:11:55Inaugural Maritime Industry Awards
Maritime Safety Strategy 2015-2019
Launching the new Maritime Safety Strategy, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, said all stakeholders "must work together" to ensure that potentially avoidable fatalities are eleminated.
The five-year programme Make Time for Maritime Safety' was developed following consultation with key stakeholders and the public, and includes an analysis of the factors contributing to maritime fatalities in Ireland.
Irish Coast Guard safety demonstration at Leenane, Co Galway, 2011. Photo Gillian Mills
“My Department’s maritime safety remit covers safety on recreational craft, including surfboards, fishing vessels and cargo ships, and it is these areas that are covered by the Strategy.
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Guest Writer2015-02-06 17:08:352019-02-15 15:02:18Decommissioning of LÉ Aoife
Lough Swilly RNLI to receive first Shannon class lifeboat in Ireland
The first Shannon class lifeboat for Ireland is under construction at Lymington in the UK for the Lough Swilly Lifeboat Station. The €2.4m 13m long, 18 ton vessel, is the first class of lifeboat to be named after the Irish river, and is expected at the Donegal station next April, replacing the station's all-weather Tyne class lifeboat Robert & Violet.
Shannon class lifeboat. Photo RNLI
The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet and the first to be propelled by waterjets instead of traditional propellers, making it extremely agile and manoeuvrable.
Ireland ratifies the Maritime Labour Convention
Ireland's ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention which sets standards for working and living conditions for seafarers, will cover both Irish-flagged ships and international ships calling at Irish Ports.
Dublin Port: The MLC covers both Irish-flagged vessels and international ships calling into Irish ports. Photo Gillian Mills
Effective from July 21, 2015 work is now underway to inspect and certify Irish ships, according to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Pascal Donohue and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton.
US marine is remembered at Whiddy Island
A commemoration in June remembered a young US marine who was killed in a seaplane crash in October 1918 while returning to Whiddy Island on the south coast of Ireland.
The event began with a wreath laying ceremony at the crash site attended by 25 boats out of Bantry, followed by the unveiling of a memorial on the island by Lt Col Sean Cosden, Defence Attaché to the American Embassy and US Air Corps.
Also among the gathering were County Mayor Alan Coleman; Col Barry Hanon, Irish Air Corps; Comdt Keohan, Irish Army; representative of the Irish Naval Service; local politicans; members of the American Legion; the Castletownbere Lifeboat and Bantry Inshore Search and Rescue.
Launch of Maritime Safety Strategy public consultation
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar called for a major change in attitude to maritime safety, when he launched a new consultation process on maritime safety: Sea Change – Building a new Maritime Safety Culture.
Minister Varadkar highlighted the 134 maritime fatalities that have occurred since 2002, almost half of which related to recreational craft.
Leo Varadkar, Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport with Jason Whooley, BIM chief executive and Simon Coveney, Miniister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine at the launch of the sea-safety initiative in Union Hall, July 2013. Photo Gillian Mills
“We all need to take a fresh look at how we use the waters in and around our island, and build a culture of maritime safety in our communities. This requires a radical change of culture in our attitude to safety.”
He added that the sea and any open water can be hostile and dangerous environments and demanded total respect.
Virtual marina safety awareness game-based simulation wins award
Valentia Island-bsaed company, MYMIC Global, was honoured with the 2014 Innovation Showcase Award for Training at Seawork International - the leading commercial marine and workboat event in Europe.
Thomas Mastaglio, MYMIC Global, with sponsor Paul Duckworth, Smith & Williamson (left) and Paul Clifton BBC South
The Spirit of Innovation award ackowledges companies that have introduced innovative products or services withn the past twelve months.
Nautical Institute Presidency for Irish Mariner
On June 17 in Sydney Australia, the AGM of the Nautical Institute will elect Captain Robert McCabe to the Presidency of the Institute for a two-year term.
The Nautical Institute is the international representative body for maritime professionals involved in the control of sea-going ships and is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with consultative status at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). It has 6,500 members worldwide across 110 countries.
Captain McCabe is a career long member of the Institute, a former Chairman of the Institute’s Technical Committee and a frequent contributor to international conferences particularly on e-Navigation and user needs issues.