The Department of Transport has been advised by Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) and the Marine Institute that hydrographic and geophysical survey operations will be undertaken by INFOMAR in the Celtic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, western coastal areas and Irish Sea areas between this Sunday 2 March and the end of October.
The INFOMAR Programme (Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s Marine Resource) is a jointly managed seabed mapping initiative between the GSI and Marine Institute, funded by Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
Covering some 125,000 sqkm of underwater territory, INFOMAR will produce integrated mapping products covering the bathymetry, backscatter and substrate type.
Research vessels Keary, Geo, Mallet, Galtee and Lir are expected to carry out survey operations in three areas, as follows:
- In the Atlantic Ocean, west of Counties Galway and Mayo
- In an offshore area north-west of Belmullet, Co Mayo and western coastal areas stretching from Galway Bay to Malin Head, Co Donegal
- In the Irish Sea adjacent to the Ireland/UK border from east of Co Dublin to east of Co Wexford and in coastal areas of Co Dublin
These vessels will display appropriate lights and markers and will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the course of the survey.
Meanwhile, the RV Tom Crean is expected to carry out survey operations in the Celtic Sea, south of the 30 nautical mile limit, and potentially in the Atlantic Ocean west of Counties Clare and Galway, west of the 30 mm limit during the dates outlined above.
The RV Tom Crean and RV Celtic Explorer will display appropriate lights and markers and will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the course of the survey.
These vessels will be towing a magnetometer sensor with a single cable of up to 200 metres in length and a moving vessel profiler cable of variable length up to a maximum of 200 metres.
For further information, including maps, coordinates and contact details, see Marine Notice No 05 of 2025 attached below.
