The Irish Coast Guard has launched its new digital portal which will support contingency planning for oil spills and improve preparedness and response to pollution incidents.

In line with the Government’s Digital Agenda, the Oil/HNS Contingency Plan Approval Portal aims to streamline interaction between ports, local authorities and offshore operators with the coastguard and Department of Transport.

Irish Coast Guard director Eugene Clonan said the portal “will allow information to be readily available to stakeholders and enable further coordination between the Irish Coast Guard, Government and non-government entities”.

Capt Hugh Conlon, who tested the system ahead of its launch at Shannon Foynes Port, said it “ensures all plans submitted follow a pre-set layout for ease in timely approval. The completed plan will knit with and develop on the National Maritime Oil/HNS Contingency Plan and ensure local response is compatible.

“The portal will also ensure that local plans are easily available to the Irish Coast Guard to monitor actions during an incident,” he added.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) declares that the latest suite of Admiralty Digital Publications from the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office satisfies the carriage requirements for nautical publications on Irish ships that go to sea.

Guidance on the approved digital format nautical publications, such as navigation charts, is included in Marine Notice No 26 of 2014, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.