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Navy Says Cork Harbour Incinerator Will Affect Ops, Air Corps Also Objects

22nd April 2016
Indaver Ireland was refused planning permission for a commercial incinerator in Cork harbour five years ago Indaver Ireland was refused planning permission for a commercial incinerator in Cork harbour five years ago

The Department of Defence has made a major intervention at the Bord Pleanala hearing into the proposal by Indaver to build a hazardous waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy, close to the Naval Base operational headquarters on Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour.

It has said the location and its possible effects on the Base "cannot be an acceptable situation..."

Naval operations at Haulbowline Headquarters Cork Harbour could be seriously affected if the Indaver incinerator is built at Ringaskiddy, the Bord Pleanala inquiry into the third attempt by the company to get approval for a hazardous waste incinerator has been told.

Commdt David Brown, Irish Air Corp, speaking on behalf of the Department of Defence following consultation with the Naval Service and Irish Air Corps, presented observations on the proposed incinerator indicating that the Air Corps may be forced to impose a no-fly restriction around the site, with additional restrictions on operations to Haulbowline Naval base and Spike Island.

The Department of Defence in a submission said:
"Given the location of the site to the South and West of Haulbowline and Spike Island and the prevailing winds, if the propose resource recovery centre is developed the Air Corps may be forced to impose a local no-fly restriction around the site with an additional restriction on operations to Haulbowline Naval Base and Spike Island which wold result in no possible operations to the Naval Base during Southerly Wind conditions."

In its statement the Department also said:"Haulbowline Island (where the Naval Base is located) is accessed by road as a sort of cul-de-sac to the Ringaskiddy Road. The proposed incinerator is to be built adjacent to this road, before Haulnbowline. Therefore, in the event of any accident at the incinerator, road access to and from Haulbowline is threatened. For example, if an accident at the incinerator necessitated local area evacuation, the evacuation of Haulbowline would be denied. This cannot be an acceptable situation for those that work at or visit Haulbowline nor for the necessary functioning of a fully operational Naval Base therein."

In February an explosion at the Indaver incinerator facility in the port of Antwerp, Belgium, was described as "a municipal disaster..." A road tunnel was shut down and residents and workers were warned to shut doors and windows and to stay inside buildings.

Published in Cork Harbour

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Cork Harbour Information

It’s one of the largest natural harbours in the world – and those living near Cork Harbour insist that it’s also one of the most interesting.

This was the last port of call for the most famous liner in history, the Titanic, but it has been transformed into a centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.

The harbour has been a working port and a strategic defensive hub for centuries, and it has been one of Ireland's major employment hubs since the early 1900s. Traditional heavy industries have waned since the late 20th century, with the likes of the closure of Irish Steel in Haulbowline and shipbuilding at Verolme. It still has major and strategic significance in energy generation, shipping and refining.

Giraffe wander along its shores, from which tens of thousands of men and women left Ireland, most of them never to return. The harbour is home to the oldest yacht club in the world, and to the Irish Navy. 

This deep waterway has also become a vital cog in the Irish economy.

‘Afloat.ie's Cork Harbour page’ is not a history page, nor is it a news focus. It’s simply an exploration of this famous waterway, its colour and its characters.

Cork Harbour Festival

Ocean to City – An Rás Mór and Cork Harbour Open Day formerly existed as two popular one-day events located at different points on Cork’s annual maritime calendar. Both event committees recognised the synergy between the two events and began to work together and share resources. In 2015, Cork Harbour Festival was launched. The festival was shaped on the open day principle, with Ocean to City – An Ras Mór as the flagship event.

Now in its sixth year, the festival has grown from strength to strength. Although the physical 2020 festival was cancelled due to Covid-19, the event normally features nine festival days starting on the first week of June. It is packed full of events; all made possible through collaboration with over 50 different event partners in Cork City, as well as 15 towns and villages along Cork Harbour. The programme grows year by year and highlights Ireland’s rich maritime heritage and culture as well as water and shore-based activities, with Ocean to City – An Rás Mór at the heart of the festival.

Taking place at the centre of Ireland’s maritime paradise, and at the gateway to Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way, Cork is perfectly positioned to deliver the largest and most engaging harbour festival in Ireland.

The Cork Harbour Festival Committee includes representatives from Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Port of Cork, UCC MaREI, RCYC, Cobh & Harbour Chamber and Meitheal Mara.

Marinas in Cork Harbour

There are six marinas in Cork Harbour. Three in Crosshaven, one in East Ferry, one in Monkstown Bay and a new facility is opening in 2020 at Cobh. Details below

Port of Cork City Marina

Location – Cork City
Contact – Harbour Masters Dept., Port of Cork Tel: +353 (0)21 4273125 or +353 (0)21 4530466 (out of office hours)

Royal Cork Yacht Club Marina

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0) 21 4831023

Crosshaven Boatyard Marina

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)21 4831161

Salve Marina Ltd

Location: Crosshaven, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0) 21 4831145

Cork Harbour Marina

Location: Monkstown, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)87 3669009

East Ferry Marina

Location: East Ferry, Co. Cork
Contact: +353 (0)21 4813390

New Cove Sailing Club Marina

(to be opened in 2020)

Location: Cobh, Co. Cork
Contact: 087 1178363

Cork Harbour pontoons, slipways and ramps

Cork City Boardwalk Existing pontoon

Port of Cork 100m. pontoon

Cork city – End of Cornmarket St. steps and slip;

Cork city - Proby’s Qy. Existing limited access slip

Quays Bar & Restaurant, Private pontoon and ramp for patrons, suitable for yachts, small craft town and amenities

Cobh harbour [camber] Slip and steps inside quay wall pontoon

Fota (zoo, house, gardens) Derelict pontoon and steps

Haulbowline naval basin; restricted space Naval base; restricted access;

Spike Island pier, steps; slip, pontoon and ramp

Monkstown wooden pier and steps;

Crosshaven town pier, with pontoon & steps

East Ferry Marlogue marina, Slip (Great Island side) visitors’ berths

East Ferry Existing pier and slip; restricted space East Ferry Inn (pub)
(Mainland side)

Blackrock pier and slips

Ballinacurra Quay walls (private)

Aghada pier and slip, pontoon & steps public transport links

Whitegate Slip

Passage West Pontoon

Glenbrook Cross-river ferry

Ringaskiddy Parking with slip and pontoon Ferry terminal; village 1km.

Carrigaloe pier and slip; restricted space; Cross-river ferry;

Fountainstown Slip

White’s Bay beach

Ringabella beach

Glanmire Bridge and tide restrictions

Old Glanmire - Quay