#ISLAND NATION – It is encouraging that the first citizen of THIS ISLAND NATION is taking an interest in the marine sphere. I was M.C. at the national commemoration ceremonies for the Titanic centenary in Cobh when President Michael D. Higgins spoke powerfully about the challenge of the sea and the courage of seafarers. Following that event he travelled to Union Hall in West Cork to meet the coastal and fishing community and families of those who had died in the Tit Bonhomme trawler tragedy. There he spoke about the importance of fishing communities and the commitment, fortitude, courage and bravery of fishermen. He had expressed a personal wish to go there to meet the community. This Tuesday President Higgins will open the refurbished National Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire. It is good to see him taking such interest in the maritime sphere. When the President does this it focusses public attention on this vital part of national life.
Read on about Irish sailors on top of the world and the fact that there were not one but two ships named Concordia involved in maritime disasters. One has led to suggested changes in training officers for sail training vessels and an unprecedented salvage operation is being tried on the other. Certified fishermen and whales are also interesting me this week.
IRISH SAILORS TOP WORLD RACE
Damian Foxall and Justin Slattery are two great sailors who I am honoured to count as friends. They are top of the world following the arrival of the Volvo Round the World Fleet in Lisbon.
Justin, a Corkman, is bowman aboard Ador, the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing entry. It is the toughest position on the Volvo 70 ocean racing machines. Aboard Ador he is crewing again with Skipper Ian Walker, as he did on the Irish Green Dragon in the last race. Ador shrugged off what have been seven months of frustration with poor results and serious boat damage in the Southern Ocean to secure their first leg victory, crossing the Lisbon finish line ahead of the French Groupama.
Aboard Groupama is Damian Foxall from Kerry and a member of Kinsale Yacht Club, sailing with Skipper and world sailing legend, Franck Cammas. Second place into Lisbon puts Groupama in the overall race lead and, as I have been writing in past weeks, creates the strong possibility that there could be an Irishman on the winning podium when the race finishes in Galway in July. It is great that two Irishmen are on the winners' podium for this leg of the race, so it is building up beautifully to the finish in Galway.
Here's hoping for Irish victory celebrations in the City of the Tribes.
ONE CONCORDIA AND ANOTHER
While salvage experts are planning to use water-filled cisterns to weigh down the above-sea side of the cruise liner Concordia which capsized off the Italian coast as part of an effort to turn the massive vessel upright so that it can towed away for demolition, a book examines why another Concordia sank.
This was the sail training barquentine, Concordia, that capsized and sank 300 nautical miles south east of Rio de Janeiro on February 17, 2012. Fortunately all 64 onboard were able to abandon ship into liferafts from which they were rescued after 40 hours. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada produced a detailed report indicating how difficult it was to abandon the vessel as it lay on its beam ends and that it was fortunate this happened in daylight. The Nautical Institute, the professional body for seafarers, has produced a Square Rig Handbook analysing the findings and implications for the design and operation of sail training vessels.
The Canadian report recommended new international standards for officers in sail training ships. The Nautical Institute says this endorses its decision to establish a Square Rig Certification scheme in 1990, to improve the quality of officers in square rig and enhance the safe operation of these ships.
Isn't it an extraordinary coincidence that two vessels of the same name should have been involved in major emergencies at sea?
Turning back to the cruise liner Concordia what salvage experts are attempting has been described as "unprecedented." Nothing on such a scale has been tried before. If they succeed it will be early next year before the ship is towed away to be demolished. The Costa Lines' Concordia, was carrying 4,200 people when it struck a jagged reef on January 13 after going too close to Giglio island. The accident killed 32 people.
Titan Salvage, based in Pompano Beach, Florida, USA has won the bid to remove the wreckage from what are pristine waters. Managing Director Capt. Richard Habib said they would "use brains, not as much brawn" to remove Concordia. The biggest challenge is to roll the vessel upright on a platform and float it away to a port to be selected by Italian officials.
"The magnitude of the job is unprecedented," he said. It will involve building an underwater platform and attaching empty cisterns to the side of the ship which is above water. They will be filled with water and two cranes attached to the platform to pull the vessel upright. Then the cisterns will be filled with air to raise the vessel higher in the water and get it free of the seabed.
"Nothing on such a scale has been tried before. We think our plan is going to work," Captain Habib said.
The Mediterranean waters near Giglio are teeming with fish, dolphins and other sea life. So far no pollution has been reported. The bodies of two victims of the disaster have yet to be located.
CERTIFIED FISHERMEN
Fishermen have shown their concern in maintaining sustainable and well-managed fisheries. The Marine Stewardship Council which approves fishing practices internationally has awarded its certification to the Celtic Sea Herring fishery, an important one for Irish boats, after an 11-month assessment. This shows that Irish fishermen are catching fish in a sustainable manner. Gavin Power, Chairman of the Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee, said the stock has recovered well after years of dedicated commitment by fishermen. Herring now carry the blue MSC eco label. Fishermen in the south have also been given MSC certification for the mackerel fishery.
WHALES ARE BACK
Whales are being seen on the West Cork coastline. Several reports have come in during the past week and also of dolphins being spotted off the south coast particularly near Kinsale this week.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is to hold another series of their popular "watching weekends" this summer on Cape Clear Island. July 20-22 and September 7-9 are dates. The courses are a mixture of land and boat-based watching with indoor lectures in a relaxed environment. For more information see www.iwdg.ie or email [email protected] or phone 023-8838761.
Local West Cork whale watch operator Colin Barnes noted a humpback whale 7-8 miles Southeast of Galley Head outside Clonakilty Bay.
LINERS IN GALWAY
Galway's Harbour Master, Captain Brian Sheridan, is a happy man these days with a good schedule of cruise ship calls due this year.
Captain Brian Sheridan
The second visitor to Galway Bay will be the Bremen, due on Thursday, June 7 and on Friday, August 17, there will be a great sigh in the bay when three cruise liners call on the same day to the western port. That will come after the highlight of the Volvo Ocean Race which will make its return to the city in July.
No wonder he is a happy man. Other ports watch out, Galway is on the march and I'll be telling you more at a later stage about its development plan, due to be lodged for planning approval later in the summer.
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