Good news for those boaters keen to get back on the water in Ards and North Down in Northern Ireland.

All the Harbours and slipways operated by Ards and North Down Council will be open from this morning (Wed 27th May) following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

This action is in line with the NI Executive’s announcement last week regarding reopening access to certain outdoor activities, including water sports.

The council asks users to note that:-

• All harbour facilities will be operating with additional control measures designed to protect both staff and the public from exposure to, and transmission of, COVID-19 (more details are available at www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/resident/harbours/introduction
• All those using the harbours for recreation are asked to adhere to social distancing guidelines and to be considerate to other users.

The harbours include Groomsport, Donaghadee, Ballywalter, Ballyhalbert and Cooke St Pier, Portaferry.

In a ramping up of curbs on the use of some harbours in County Down, Ards and North Down Council have issued a Notice to Berth Holders preventing the launching and mooring of vessels, apart from fishing boats, in its harbours.

The five locations are Groomsport, Donaghadee, Ballywalter, Ballyhalbert and Cooke St Pier, Portaferry.

It reads:

Due to the Covid-19 all Ards and North Down Harbours are closed until further notice. No vessels other than commercial vessels are to remain in the water during this period.

All others to remain on hard standing until further notice.

Thank you.

Stay In & Stay Safe
Harbour Contacts V H F channel 68
Harbour Master William Angus
Office 02891882377
Mobile 07718579105 or 07718579104

The lift in at Groomsport which was postponed now seems unlikely for some time.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., today announced details of a €35.7m Capital Investment Package for the ongoing development of Ireland’s publicly owned harbour network.

In announcing the initiative the Minister said “I am delighted to announce this €35.7m capital investment package in our six Fishery Harbour Centres and other fisheries related marine infrastructure. It represents an increase of €9.4m on the final expenditure on this programme in 2018 and underlines the importance this Government places on the ever significant contribution of the wider Seafood sector to Ireland's economy.”

The Annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Programme provides funding for safety, maintenance and new development works at the six Fishery Harbour Centres at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros An Mhíl and Killybegs (see Table 1 below). The primary function of the Fishery Harbour Centres is to underpin the ongoing development of the fisheries and seafood processing sectors while also facilitating other diversemarine-relatedd activities.

Flagship projects in the 2019 Capital Programme include the continuation of the Dinish Island quay extension at Castletownbere (€17.5m in 2019), the Smooth Point extension Phase 2 at Killybegs (€4.0m in 2019) and the provision of additional berthing space on the Middle Pier in Howth (€4.5m in 2019).

The Minister said “The quay extension projects in Castletownbere, Killybegs and Howth will collectively provide an additional 460 metres of berthing space in the respective harbours recognising the growing levels of fishing activity in particular, but also the increasing demands from other sectors including commercial cargo, leisure and tourism and cruise liners. These projects are also under consideration for co-funding under the European Maritime Fisheries Fund”

€2.48m has been set aside for safety, maintenance and disability access works at the six Fishery Harbour Centres and at North Harbour, Cape Clear which is also owned by the Department. In addition, €2m is earmarked for a Local Authority Harbour Development and Marine Leisure programme to assist coastal Local Authorities in the repair and development of piers, harbours and slipways under their ownership.

The Minister concluded by saying “This €35.7 investment will build on the €96m invested in the Fishery Harbour Centres since 2010 and the €27m invested in the Local Authority infrastructure over the same period. Improving the standards of facilities at our Fishery Harbour Centres and other public harbours around our coast attract increasing and additional economic activities, benefitting a broad cohort of current and future harbour users including the fishing industry, seafood processing sector, other ancillary marine industries, and the wider rural coastal communities”.

#IrishHarbours - According to Galway Bay fm, €225,000 has been ringfenced for harbour projects in the county.

€112,000 will be spent on slipway and pier infrastructure at Crumpan Pier, Carna.

A further €112,000 will go towards slipway and pier extension works at Droim, Lettermore.

The money has been announced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as part of a €2.2 million national fund.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, today announced details of a €28m Capital Investment Package for the ongoing development of Ireland’s Local Authority owned small harbour network. (see Table 1 below for details)
In announcing the initiative the Minister said “The €28m I am allocating for the 2017 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Programme represents a significantly increased capital investment in the six Fishery Harbour Centres and other fisheries related marine infrastructure. It is testament not only to this Governments ongoing commitment to the Seafood sector, but also to the success of the sector in terms of increased activity levels.”

The Annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Programme provides funding for development works, safety and maintenance at the six Fishery Harbour Centres at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros an Mhil and Killybegs. The primary function of the Fishery Harbour Centres is to underpin the ongoing development of the fisheries and seafood processing sectors, while also facilitating other diverse marine related activities. The annual value of all fish landings into the six Fishery Harbour Centres increased from €136.8m to €262.3m over the period from 2010 to 2015.
The Minister said “I have set aside almost €25.5m towards development works, safety and maintenance at the six Fishery Harbour Centres which account for around 85% of all fish landed into Ireland. I have also proved €2.5m for a Local Authority Harbour Development and Marine Leisure programme to assist coastal Local Authorities in the repair and development of small scale piers, harbours and slipways under their ownership.”
Flagship projects in the 2017 Capital Programme include major quay extensions at Castletownbere, Killybegs, and Howth. Also of note is the dredging of the navigation channel in Dingle, the completion of the Small Craft Harbour in Ros an Mhíl and the West Wharf upgrade in Dunmore East.
The Minister concluded by saying “This €28m investment will build on the €64m invested in the Fishery Harbour Centres since 2010 and the €23m invested in the Local Authority infrastructure over the same period. It continues to improve the facilities at our Fishery Harbour Centres and other public harbours around our coast attracting increasing and additional economic activities, benefitting a broad cohort of current and future harbour users including the fishing industry, seafood processing sector, other ancillary marine industries, and the wider rural coastal communities”.

Table 1- Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme 2017

#MarineNotice - Marine Notice No 46 of 2016 advises that piling works were set to commence at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre, weather permitting, on or around this past Monday 21 November.

The works involve the installation of 3 No. circular steel piles and the subsequent installation of a floating pontoon at the trawler dock (Western Basin) at latitude 53°23'32” N and longitude 6°4’6” W.

The works are being advanced by a marine contractor working from a jack-up barge 18m x 18m in size, using heavy civil engineering plant and machinery, work vessels and platforms. Divers will be employed onsite to install anodes to the piles.

For safety reasons, mariners are requested to proceed slowly and with caution in the trawler dock and to give the works a wide berth. Wave wash from vessels should be avoided.

These works are expected to be ongoing until the end of December 2016, weather permitting.

#Westport - Submissions are now open on plans for a new pontoon and slipway for Westport Harbour, as the Mayo News reports.

Intended as an interim measure for the Co Mayo coastal town as more ambitious proposals for a marina development remain on hold over costing issues, the 37m slipway and 42m pontoon could be ready two years from now if greenlit through the planning process.

The infrastructure would also prove useful for the proposed new coastguard station in the harbour, plans for which were lodged earlier in the year.

Plans are now open for the public to view at the West Mayo Municipal District offices till Tuesday 13 September, with the consultation closing on Friday 30 September.

The Mayo News has more on the story HERE.

#WestCork - A West Cork TD has welcomed the recent announcement of the near €18 million Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Programme.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the package announced last month by Marine Minister Simon Coveney is primarily aimed at safety, maintenance and development works at Ireland's six Fishery Harbour Centres.

Funded alongside electrical upgrading and more at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre (€890,000) will be storm damage repairs works and improvements infrastructure at Cape Clear's North Harbour at a cost of nearly €2 million.

The funding allocation for these West Cork harbour sites was welcomed by local Fine Gael deputy Noel Harrington, who told the West Cork Times that the works at Cape Clear "will enhance the safety for those living on the island and the thousands who visit there each year."

Moreover, the Castletownbere works are "welcome and necessary in the busy port," he said, adding that he was confident further funding via Cork County Council would see greater investment in the West Cork coastal region.

#clare – Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, T.D., today announced funds totalling 91,500 euro for projects at Ballyvaughan, Cappagh, Liscannor, Carrigaholt and Kilbaha harbours/piers.

"The safety works scheduled to take place at these harbours will have a hugely positive impact on the livelihoods of fishermen and other users of the piers," explained Clare Senator Tony Mulcahy. He added: "These projects are central to ensuring the safety of all users of the piers. The continued upgrading of these piers is essential to the development of both industry and tourism in the respective areas."

The funding announcement features allocations of €22,500 to Carrigaholt, €37,500 to Ballyvaughan, €9,000 to Kilbaha, and €11,250 to both Liscannor and Cappagh.

According to Senator Mulcahy: "The funding contribution from the Government covers 75% of the total cost of the relevant projects which include repairs to the pier wall in Ballyvaughan, the installation of a handrail to pier access, harbour wall and upgrade of visitor moorings at Carrigaholt, a complete remediation to the existing pier walls at Liscannor, repairs to the sea wall at Cappagh, and repairs to the harbour wall capping stones at Kilbaha."