Multi-agency initiative to tackle high loss of life at sea

Gery Flynn

Ireland’s first national maritime safety strategy launched by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar (maritime safety and emergency response) and Simon Coveney (fishing industry) is about “closing the gaps in services, preventing accidents at sea”.

Leo Varadkar, Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport; Jason Whooley, BIM chief executive and Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine at the launch in Union Hall. Photo Gillian Mills/Inshore Ireland

Speaking at Union Hall, Minister Varadkar said it was “appropriate” that the initiative, which is targeted at the fishing industry, was being launched where the “tragic events of January 2012” had left a huge impact on the nation.

To be administered by BIM, the scheme, back up by changes to the Code of Practice and a “continued commitment to regulation and compliance with safety standards will help to engrain a culture of ‘safety-first’ on the water,” he added.

 Minister Coveney said the initiative was a “testament to this Government’s commitment to improving safety in our fishing fleet. It is about learning from past tragedies and saving lives at sea. I am making over €800,000 available over the next three years…and aligned with the new excellent enhanced safety training course being rolled out by BIM, will focus primarily though not exclusively on operators of small vessels”.

Working group focus

A high level working group on safety (chaired by John Leech, current CEO of Irish Water Safety) is to look at all aspects of safety on fishing vessels and will report to the two departments with recommendations by the end of the year.

(see (Aug/Sept) for interview and reaction)