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Displaying items by tag: Earthquake

#Tsunami - New Zealand authorities have urged people in low-lying coastal areas to reach higher ground after a tsunami was trigged by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks in the country’s South Island.

No injuries have been recorded thus far amid reports of widespread damage after the earthquake and this morning (Sunday 13 November) around 11am Irish time, according to RTÉ News.

TVNZ reports that tsunami waves up to one metre have been noted in Christchurch, some 90km south of the earthquake’s epicentre, as residents in Wellington, on the southern end of North Island, are urged to evacuate.

Published in News Update

#Earthquake - Just a few weeks after the Bristol Channel was stirred up by a 4.1 magnitude earthquake, TheJournal.ie reports of tremors felt in Ireland's south-east yesterday evening (18 March).

No damage has been reported on the relatively minor quake, the magnitude of which is awaiting confirmation from Irish seismologists.

But the tectonic trembling was felt in many parts of Wexford, and detected as far away as Wales across the Irish Sea.

That may put offshore sailors on alert over the coming weeks, following as it did not long after the Bristol Channel quake, not to mention a 2.6 magnitude rumble off the Cork coast late last year.

TheJournal.ie has more on the story HERE, including a link to a questionnaire for anyone who believes they felt last night's quake.

Published in News Update
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#Offshore - Offshore sailors had best beware of some unusual tectonic activity between Britain and Ireland as of late, with the Bristol Channel experiencing its largest ever earthquake last month.

According to Met Éireann, the 4.1 magnitude quake on 20 February had an epicentre between Ilfracombe in Devon and Swansea in South Wales, and could be felt more than 200km away as far east as Guilford in Surrey.

"Most people described the shaking strength of the earthquake to be either weak or moderate, with mainly a trembling effect," said Met Éireann, "whilst others described the effect as swaying or jerky" and many reported rattling windows and shaking crockery.

There are as far no reports that the quake was felt across the Irish Sea here in Ireland, but experts will be vigilant for any further trembles beneath the waves...

Published in Offshore
Tagged under

#EARTHQUAKE - The North West region experienced its biggest ever earthquake this week in an event that poses “very interesting questions for geologists”.

The magnitude 4 quake on the morning of Wednesday 6 June, which was epicentred close to the Corrib Gas Field off the coast of Co Mayo, resulted in tremors felt from Sligo to Galway and numerous reports of houses shaking, as The Irish Times reports.

Minister for Energy and Natural Resouces Pat Rabbitte said all evidence pointed to the incident being a “naturally occurring earthquake” and emphasised there was “no link” to works on the Corrib field.

Experts from the British Geological Survey said it was "not a warning of anything bigger to come".

However, Tom Blake of the Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) said that the "moderate" quake was “significant” in that it challenged existing information about seismic activity in the region.

Shell EP Ireland said the seismic survey had not started and it had “no reason to believe that this event has had any impact on the sub-sea infrastructure”.

“However, as a precautionary measure, a visual inspection of the offshore infrastructure will be carried out in the coming days,” it said.

Ireland's biggest earthquake on record was in 1984, when a magnitude 5.4 quake struck off Wales, causing some structural damage along the east coast.

Published in Coastal Notes

National Watersports Campus, Dun Laoghaire

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Stakeholders combined forces in 2019 to promote a project to improve the Harbour’s infrastructure resulting in improved access, job creation and greater tourism potential. 

A grant application to government made by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCoCo) assisted by stakeholders was successful with the announcement of a €400k feasibility study grant from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) in January 2020.

It meant plans for the €8m National Watersports Campus at Dun Laoghaire Harbour got the green light from Government and came a step closer to reality.

The project recognises deficits in the current set up in the harbour, proposing the construction of an all-tide publicly-accessible slipway (none currently in the Greater Dublin Area) as well as a marine services facility, providing a much-needed home for the supporting industry. 

The campus also seeks to provide a marketing framework to make boating more accessible to the general public.

The benefits of such an increase might be obvious for the Dun Laoghaire waterfront but there are other spin-offs for the harbour town in the creation of the sort of jobs that cannot be shipped abroad.

Centre for Community Watersports activity and public slipway

  • High-Performance coaching centre
  • Flexible Event Space for hosting national and international events
  • Multipurpose Building
  • Campus Marketing and Promotional Centre
  • Accommodation for Irish Sailing and Irish Underwater Council
  • Shared NGB Facility
  • Education Centre for schools, community groups and clubs
  • Proposed site – Carlisle Pier

Watersports Campus FAQs

Similar to the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, the watersports campus will provide quality, public, recreational and high-performance facilities for the many watersports participants. The Campus will considerably enhance the services currently provided by more than 30 clubs and activity centres to over 50,000 annual users of the harbour.

The passing of control of the harbour to DLRCC, the public appetite for a community benefitting project and the capital funding for sports infrastructure in the Project 2040 National Plan have aligned to create an opportunity to deliver this proposal.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) and the Irish Sailing Association (Irish Sailing) are the project leads, endorsed by the National Governing Bodies of other Irish watersports and clubs and activity providers.

The National Sports Policy, published in 2018, established the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) to provide Exchequer support for sports facility projects. In some cases, these may be projects where the primary objective will be to increase active participation in sport. In other cases, these may be venues where the focus is more related to high-performance sport.

Government has allocated at least €100m over the term to 2027 to successful applicant projects.

The Watersports Campus was one of seven successful applicants for Stream 1 funding allowing planning to commence on the project design and feasibility. €442,000 has been granted in this phase.

NThe project will provide for a municipally-owned public access facility to include a small craft slipway that is accessible at all stages of the tide (currently none in public ownership in the greater Dublin area), storage and lock-up resources, watersports event management space, a high-performance centre and NGB accommodation.

The project aims to enhance the profile of Dun Laoghaire as a major international venue for maritime events, shows and conferences. Establish Dun Laoghaire as the 'go-to place' for anything marine – generating revenues Create employment in the county - attract businesses, visitors and events. Grow the market for watersports Promote the services of activity providers to the public. Complement the plan to develop Dun Laoghaire as a 'destination.'

As of January 1 2021, The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has approved the applicant project and DLRCC are expected to appoint a team to further advance the project.

©Afloat 2020