Sam Field Corbett, director of a number of marine-based companies in Dublin and Galway, found himself at the centre of criticism last week when a military tank which he had imported to incorporate into an “escape room” was reported to be parked in Galway harbour and flying a Russian Federation flag.

The Czechoslovakian or Polish-built armoured vehicle had been purchased in Kosovo, and was part-driven and part-trucked to Galway.

It is planned to load the tank temporarily on to a 40-metre barge in Galway’s Old Dock, where it will be converted into an “escape room” feature for Dublin. The “Escape Room”which he is involved with in Dublin’s Grand Canal Basin has been a runaway success, Corbett says.

However, the tank became the subject of criticism last week (March 20) when Labour councillor Niall McNelis questioned the “insensitive location” of the vehicle which had been parked in the docks and was flying the Russian Federation flag.

McNelis pointed out that a number of Ukrainian refugees from the war initiated by Russian leader Vladimir Putin a year ago were living in apartments at Galway harbour.

Corbett said the flag was part of paraphernalia which came with the tank. He said there was “no political motive”, and the flag was erected with “no malice involved” by a young man helping with the vehicle’s unloading after the tank got stuck in reverse.

Sam Field Corbett on board one of his vessels

The flag was removed, and the Galway Harbour Company covered the tank with a tarpaulin and fencing until it could be driven to a secure location in the docks before transfer onto Corbett’s barge.

The tank is covered with a tarpaulin in Galway Harbour

Wavelengths met Corbett on the barge – renamed Lady Norrie K – to hear more about what happened, how the barge delivery to Galway was an epic voyage in itself. Corbett first gave a quick tour of some of the vessels in Galway’s late 17th century Old Dock which are leased out for accommodation as part of Sea Stay Galway.

The Sea Stay Galway fleet of boats, including the Jack Tyrrell-built Arctic Sun, which Sam Field Corbett's company runs at Galway's Old Dock. Inside berth is the barge Essex, renamed Lady Norrie K, currently being restored and where the military tank is to be converted into an "escape room" feature. It is planned to use the converted tank as an "escape room" in Dublin