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.
“By consulting with stakeholders and the general public, we want to reach a situation where there are no fatalities,” he said.
The results of the consultation process will feed into the first ever Maritime Safety Strategy for Ireland. This approach borrows from the road safety strategies that has significantly improved road safety over the last 15 years.
The goal is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries that occur annually on craft in our coastal and inland waters.
“This will be done by building a culture of safety in the maritime sector, for all types of craft, with a focus on maritime safety issues, and by posing key questions to shape the new Maritime Safety Strategy,” he added.
Sea Change will look at how to address the top ten contributing factors to loss of life at sea
• Lack of an adequate maritime safety culture;
• Unsuitable or inadequately maintained safety equipment on board, or lack thereof
• Lack of crew training
• Failure to plan journeys safely, including failure to take sea/weather conditions into account
• Non-wearing of personal flotation device (PFD)
• Vessel unseaworthy, unstable and/or overloaded
• Inadequate enforcement of regulations
• Impairment due to fatigue or the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
• Inadequate crewing levels/solo operation
• Unsuitable clothing being worn on board
“The number of tragedies around our coastline, and the effect of those events on families, has put the need for a Maritime Safety Strategy into sharp focus. We have to learn from past tragedies, in memory of those who have lost their lives, and safeguard future generations,” he said.
Minister Varadkar urged all stakeholders, and the general public, to engage with the consultation process and to contribute their ideas to the Irish Maritime Administration in his Department.
Closing date for submissions is August 29, 2014. Submissions to [email protected]
