#corkharbour – In compiling this month's edition of This Island Nation I met a 23-year-old student from University College, Cork, who told me the story of Soviet-inclined workers of Cork Harbour Board taking over the port and flying the Red Flag over the hallowed building of the Board, then administered by members of the elite and exclusive part of Cork society. It is a fascinating part of Irish history
Ships were prevented from entering the Port of Cork which was then under a blockade of the Red Flag in the Soviet-style take-over.
I thought I knew my history, but never knew about this, nor it seems may many other people, when the Red Flag flew over the board offices and Sinn Fein tried for treason those who had followed the lead of Cork's then Lord Mayor, the legendary Tomás MacCurtain.
Luke Dineen told me the story. He is studying at UCC for his PhD on the history of the labour movement in Cork from 1918 to 1923. I hope you listen to the programme where you will hear about this unusual part of Irish maritime and labour history, with a twist in the tail about Cork's commemoration of its 800th anniversary involving the famous pub, the Phoenix.
There are many other stories in the programme which provides the most widespread coverage of maritime affairs on air.
NAVAL SEAMANSHIP APPRECIATION
It is encouraging to know that a blog like this is so well read and so, when the Naval Service contacted me following my column on July 13 about sailing past their base on Haulbowline aboard Odd Job, the yacht owned by a friend of mine in Monkstown Bay Sailing Club and altering course at the request of the L.E. Samuel Beckett to facilitate it docking at the Base, it was to express appreciation of the seamanship and courtesy involved,
John Hegarty, the Skipper/owner, the rest of the crew aboard and myself are very appreciative of the courtesy of the Navy in the note they sent to invite a visit to the ship "in recognition of the values of good seamanship and courtesy displayed between the two vessels."
I had recounted how John lost the winning position on that night's league racing in Monkstown, the time involved in altering course and then returning to the racing making the difference on handicap.
Why I am writing again about this is to stress the courtesy and seamanship involved between the State vessel and a racing yacht. In this instance it occurred in the confines of a narrow part of Cork Harbour, but seamanship and courtesy are applicable anywhere on the water and, regrettably, there are growing incidents of these values not being shown.
RNLI and Coast Guard contacts have told me of rescue calls, particularly involving engine breakdowns, when help is despatched but those in difficulty manage to get an engine going again, but don't bother to advise the rescue services that they no longer need help and lifeboat or Coast Guard personnel can spend time searching fruitlessly for them.
Then there are the ribs and motorboats which rush past sailing vessels with no consideration for the wash they cause, the yachts which impede commercial traffic in a harbour and the owners of which are under the illusion that "steam gives way to sail," which does not operate inside commercially-operated harbours. There are those who sail at night but show no lights, those who do not obey the speed limits inside harbours and several other aspects which readers could probably quote. All of which show lack of seamanship.
Anyone who takes a boat out on the water has a duty of responsibility not only to those aboard, but to everyone else on the water.
"Seamanship" has been defined in many ways.
One of the best definitions for me was that by Denny Desoutter published in 1978 by Hollis & Carter in his book 'The Boat-Owner's Practical Dictionary' which cost me then £4.50 in pre-Decimalisation and pre-Euro money:
"SEAMANSHIP: The art and science of keeping out of trouble at sea, no matter whether your craft is a fully-rigged ship or a makeshift raft."
That was his definition.
I commend it to all who go afloat.
Denny Desoutter was the founder-editor of Practical Boat Owner magazine in the UK, was also a broadcaster on maritime affairs and wrote technical articles for magazines around the world, as well as being the author of several books.
ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC TOLL
Thirty-three per cent of all hull and machinery claims for damage encountered by ships in heavy weather occur in the Atlantic and Pacific. Of these claims, 48 per cent relate to containerships, 27 per cent bulk carriers and 15 per cent for ro-ro vessels. These figures have been released by the Swedish P&I Club, shipping insurers in a new guide to 'Heavy Weather' which is intended to cut the number of insurance claims. "It provides seafarers with advice on how to avoid the many problems associated with adverse conditions, including check lists about securing cargo, guidance on course and speed and managing ballast conditions in heavy weather," says the company. "Warnings about serious weather are usually available day before the weather arrives, but we see examples of crews not managing to avoid the heavy weather, not slowing own or altering course to avoid large waves pounding the vessel."
UNITED NATIONS AND THE SEA
The United Nations can, at times, seem to be a somewhat toothless organisation, with little effective power and slow to react quickly to issues. It does have within its ambit the International Maritime Organisation, which is responsible for safety at sea and it has now been urged to place the oceans "at the forefront of its development agenda." This comes from the Global Ocean Commission which was established in February of last year. An impressive title and the membership of which is comprised of former heads of state, government officials and business leaders but, noticeably, not a lot of maritime professionals or experience amongst them. However, its first report is a pretty major piece of work about the future of the oceans, calling for the United Nations to lead a five-year rescue plan. This has not received a lot of media coverage, even though its proposals are strong, such as suggesting that there
should be "proper high seas governance," with a new global agreement for the conservation and use of marine species; the appointment of a UN special representative for the oceans to co-ordinate all laws and agreements relating to it; the creation of regional sea management organisations and ocean ministers in each nation which is a member of the United Nations with a sea border. It suggests that such a Minister would have a role across all aspects of Government which relate to any aspect of the oceans"! to create stronger co-ordination between ministries." There is exactly where those concerned about Irish Government neglect of the maritime sphere have pinpointed a major problem. Maritime matters have been dispersed across too many government departments, so that their importance has been diluted. But will Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his government colleagues heed what has been recommended by the Global Ocean Commission? Hardly likely and I wouldn't give much hope that the UN will either!
From time-to-time I hear quite a few remarks from those who think along the lines of Hermann Broch who described "those who live by the sea" as "hardly being able to form a single thought of which the sea would not be part." As a counterbalance to that quote where he failed to understand the sea, I quote President John F.Kennedy, who did understand it and his assessment: "It's because we all came from the sea. And it is a biological fact that all of us have in our veins the same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea - whether it is to sail or to watch it - we are going back from whence we came."
Fair sailing until next week...
Twitter: @Afloatmagazine @Tom MacSweeney
