A recent Marine Notice from the Department of Transport draws attention to the recent report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) on an incident involving a fishing vessel in Dingle last year.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, it was found that an incorrectly designed electrical system on the French-registered FV Bikain was the main cause of a serious collision with a pontoon in Dingle Harbour which caused extensive damage on 25 November 2022.

It was established that the design of the electrical system necessitated that emergency batteries were required to be in use at all times for the operation of the vessel, but emergency batteries should only be used for emergency situations when the main power supply fails.

The MCIB has made the following recommendations to owners:

• A list of critical systems should be carried onboard vessels with a maintenance and testing schedule included for each critical system or piece of equipment.
• Records of test and maintenance should be retained onboard.
• Sufficient spares should be carried onboard to enable repair of a vessel’s critical systems in the event of failure.
• Any failure of critical systems should be reported immediately, and a thorough investigation carried out to identify the root cause.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Iarnród Éireann that it intends to undertake a marine benthic ecology survey, geophysical survey and intrusive ground investigation on the proposed offshore renewable energy hub development area surrounding the existing Rosslare Europort, off the coast of Co Wexford.

These site investigation works is expected to be undertaken between this Thursday 5 October and 5 January next year, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The geophysical survey work will involve the deployment of hull-mounted (multibeam echo sounder and high-frequency sub-bottom profiler) and towed geophysical sensors (side-scan sonar, magnetometer and medium-frequency sub-bottom profiler) from a survey vessel. These survey works are anticipated to take place between 5-11 October, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The marine benthic and ecology surveys will involve up to 80nr drop-frame camera survey and, where suitable, grab samples will be obtained. The marine benthic ecology surveys are expected to be completed between this Saturday 7 October and 5 January next year.

The intrusive ground investigation will involve up to 40nr over-water nearshore marine boreholes, up to 40nr over-water nearshore marine cone penetration tests with pore water measurement and up to 60nr over-water nearshore marine gravity corers (vibrocores) carried out from a jack-up barge.

The site investigation shall also comprise relevant in-situ testing. These works are expected to be completed between 30 October and 5 January, subject to weather and operational constraints.

For further details of the survey vessels, relevant maps, coordinates and contact information, see Marine Notice No 66 of 2023 attached below.

The Department of Transport has launched its call for applications for the latest three-year panel of radio surveyors, which will be active from Saturday 21 October.

As with previous iterations, the panel will carry out statutory radio surveys on Irish seagoing vessels, including fishing vessels greater than 15m LOA, for compliance with the relevant requirements.

More details are available in Marine Notice No 63 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water) that it will carry out a benthic survey from Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 September, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The survey will take place in the vicinity of the proposed Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) outfall route and diffuser location, east of Portmarnock Beach and north of Ireland’s Eye.

Survey operations will be undertaken at eight sampling locations using the local work vessel Ros Áine (callsign EIZG5). The vessel will mobilise the scientific equipment from Howth and will operate onsite daily during daylight hours only.

Each sample site will be subjected to a seabed investigation where a sampler or dropdown camera will be in momentary contact with the seabed. Neither the equipment nor the vessel will be anchored to the seabed at any time.

The work vessel will display appropriate shapes and lights during operations and can be contacted via VHF Channel 16. All other marine traffic is requested to maintain a wide berth whilst operations are under way.

Coordinates and a map of the survey areas as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 56 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) that the Marine Institute will undertake site investigation survey works at the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) in Co Mayo.

The survey is expected to be completed over a 10-day period from Sunday 17 September, subject to weather and operational constraints.

Geophysical and geotechnical survey work and benthic sampling will be carried out at Test Area A, 16km from Belderra Strand, and Test Area B, 6km from Belderra Strand on the Erris Peninsula. Benthic sampling will be carried out along the proposed cable corridor at AMETS.

The survey vessel RV Celtic Explorer (callsign EIGB) will carry out the site investigation works. Throughout operations, the vessel will be displaying appropriate lights and shapes, and will also be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre.

Other vessels operating in the AMETS area are requested to give the survey vessel a wide berth during survey operations. Mariners are also advised to keep continuous watch on VHF Channel 16 when navigating the survey area at AMETS.

Coordinates and a map of the survey areas as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 55 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport advises that Hydromaster will undertake a geophysical survey campaign in relation to the Clogherhead Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Co Louth.

The survey is expected to run from Monday 11 September to Saturday 18 November, subject to operational and weather constraints.

Works will be conducted by the Ros Áine (callsign EIZG5) using multi-beam echo sounders, sub-bottom profilers, side-scan sonars, magnetometers and ultra-high-resolution survey equipment.

Geophysical equipment will be both hull-mounted and towed. Typically, the towed cable lengths will be approximately four times the water depth that the vessel is working in while acquiring survey data.

The work will be conducted during daylight hours only. Throughout operations, the vessel will display the appropriate lights and shapes and will also be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre. Therefore, passing vessels are requested to leave a wide berth.

Radio transmissions will be conducted with other seafarers to notify them of ongoing operations. Mariners are advised to keep continuous watch on VHF radio channel 16 when navigating the area. The survey vessel shall monitor this channel continuously for safety purposes.

Coordinates and a map of the survey area as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 57 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta (FST) that a geophysical seabed survey will take place in the Western Coastal Area (Connemara/Outer Galway Bay/Atlantic Ocean) between Tuesday 5 September and the end of October, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The work follows previously scheduled geotechnical and benthic surveys for the proposed Sceirde Rocks Windfarm in north Galway Bay off southwestern Connemara.

Surveying will be conducted by two vessels: the semi-SWATH catamaran Roman Rebel (callsign 2ICA5), and the Lady Kathleen (callsign EIXT2), a catamaran. Both vessels will conduct 24-hour operations and will display appropriate lights and signals.

During operations, the vessels will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre. Radio transmissions will be conducted with other seafarers to notify them of the operations. All other vessels are requested to leave a wide berth during the surveys due to the nature of the operations and the work vessels’ limited manoeuvrability. Both vessels will be monitoring VHF Channel 16 at all times for safety purposes.

Coordinates of the survey locations as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 54 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport has issued a safety notice to advise all users of Deutsche Schlauchboot GmbH (DSB) life rafts of important information regarding the equipment.

In June 2022, the UK-registered stern trawler Piedras (FD 528) flooded while fishing 78 nautical miles south-west of Mizen Head, Co Cork.

The United Kingdom’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch has issued a Safety Bulletin following an inspection of the life raft that was used by the crew to abandon ship during this incident.

The inspection found that the life raft had not been correctly serviced since its manufacture by DSB in March 2007, despite having been routinely certified by the service station Comfer Marin SL, Marin, Spain.

Therefore, owners and operators of DSB life rafts serviced by Comfer Marin SL, Spain, between January 2017 and June 2022 are advised to contact their nearest approved Survitec life raft service station without delay to arrange for their life rafts to be reinspected and serviced to ensure that they are in working order and comply with all statutory requirements.

Details of Survitec life raft service stations can be found HERE.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Codling Wind Park Ltd that a geophysical survey will be conducted in the shallow sub-tidal area of South Dublin Bay and also around the Pigeon Park area in the River Liffey channel.

The project works will commence on or around Monday 14 August and will continue through to early September 2023, subject to weather and operational constraints.

Survey operations will be conducted by the AMS Panther (callsign 2EHC2). This vessel will be conducting geophysical surveys for several days which may extend in the event of poor weather conditions.

Throughout the survey operations, the vessel will be displaying the appropriate lights and shapes as required under the COLREGS Rule 27(b). The vessel will be towing survey equipment and will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre during survey operations. All other vessels within the vicinity are therefore requested to leave a wide berth.

Coordinates and a map of the survey areas as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 50 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport is reminding all masters, owners and users of recreational craft of the need to think and prepare before going out on the water.

All owners and users of recreational craft should follow this checklist of basic requirements and advice both before going on the water and while on the water:

✓ Get training from an approved training provider in the correct use of the type of craft you wish to use;

✓ Wear a suitable personal flotation device/lifejacket: Know about the legal requirements in relation to the wearing and carrying of PFDs/lifejackets and the need for the proper care and maintenance of such devices. Select the proper type based on activity or boating conditions. See Marine Notice No 32 of 2019 for further information;

✓ Check current weather forecasts and sea/lake/river conditions prior to departure and plan your voyage accordingly;

✓ Check for any hazards and risks and prepare a passage plan;

✓ Avoid operating alone: There are increased risks involved with single person operation when there is nobody else on board or nearby to help you or to raise the alarm. Make sure you have an effective means of quickly re-boarding the boat in the event that you fall overboard;

✓ Carry out pre-departure safety checks and briefing: Check your craft and safety equipment. All persons on board should know what to do in the event of an emergency, where the safety/emergency equipment is on board, eg flares, radio equipment, lifejackets, etc and how to use the equipment;

✓ Tell someone about the plans for your trip: A designated person ashore should know your departure and return times, where you are going, and what to do to raise the alarm if necessary;

✓ Bring a dependable means of communication: VHF radio equipment is the recommended method of communication and craft users should be familiar with its use; reference Marine Notice No 70 of 2022. Mobile phones should not be relied on and should only be considered as a back-up means of communication. Where mobile phone use is proposed, the phone should be in a waterproof pouch with a lanyard, be fully charged at all times and the signal strength and charge indicator should be regularly checked while the vessel is under way;

✓ Emergency beacons: Consider having a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or an Emergency Position Indicating Beacon (EPIRB) as appropriate. See Marine Notice No 25 of 2010 as amended, Marine Notice No 38 of 2013 and Marine Notice No 70 of 2022 for further information, including in relation to registration of PLBs and EPIRBs;

✓ Do not consume alcohol or drugs before or during a trip: When operating a recreational craft, a person must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or any combination of drugs or of drugs and alcohol;

✓ Be aware of and recognise the symptoms of fatigue: Get proper sleep and rest before your journey;

✓ Relax and float: If you fall into the water, the initial shock of being in cold water can cause you to gasp and panic. Stay calm and relax. Try to float or tread water while you catch your breath. A properly fitted lifejacket will keep your head above water, ensuring you gasp air. Try to get hold of something that will help you float and get as much of your body out of the water as possible. To lessen heat escape, keep your legs together with arms/elbows by your side. Once you are calm, call for help;

✓ Wear suitable clothing and footwear;

✓ In a marine emergency, raise the alarm on VHF Channel 16 or call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.

The Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft provides information on the legislation that applies to recreational craft, as well as safety advice and best practice operational guidance for owners, masters, operators and users of a range of pleasure and recreational craft operating in Irish coastal and inland waters.

The code highlights the importance of personal responsibility for all those who take to the water. Each person must take maritime safety seriously, prepare and plan for a safe trip, behave responsibly on the water and be properly equipped to be able to respond to any incidents that may arise.

A revised Code of Practice is being developed following a review of the 2017 edition within the Irish Maritime Directorate and consultation with the public and key stakeholders. An updated edition will be published later in 2023.

Additional online publications in relation to safety on the water are available at Gov.ie.