In the north-east, Louth County Council has called upon the Drogheda Port Company to attend a council meeting so to answer questions in relation to the disused dredger, Hebble Sand.
The grab-hopper dredger dating to 1963, which has been left non-operational and subsequently partially sank in Drogheda’s North Quay in 2022, has now been removed from the River Boyne. However, as LMFM reports the council wants to ascertain why it took so long to remove the re-floated 757-ton veteran vessel.
According to Cathaoirleach Kevin Callan, the vessel could have caused environmental issues due to the length at which it stayed along the town quay, which Afloat adds forms part of the port, with its main terminal facility downriver.
"It was effectively an eyesore in the heart of Drogheda, and I'm glad to see that it's finally been removed. But that vessel had sank into the river in September 2022, so I and a number of the elected representatives are very keen to learn from Drogheda Port Company what the delays were.”.
He added, “I think it's very, very important that that is discussed and that we get answers as to why it took so long to remove this vessel from the River Boyne and an area where it could have had a very serious environmental impact on the estuary and an area of conservation."
The dredger had a career working along Irish east coast ports, firstly at Dundalk Port but originally began service in the UK for Associated British Ports.
