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Displaying items by tag: LEEmer

#EmerNIGERIA – The former Naval Service OPV L.E. Emer took the short journey between the Naval Base on Haulbowline Island to Cork Dockyard Ltd today for upgrading work for her new owners, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 65m vessel was brought at public auction last month for €320,000 by Nigerian based Uniglobe Group and is to be used for work in the Niger Delta.

For now she is likely to remain at the dockyard into next month before finally departing from the Rushbrooke facility. She was launched in 1978 from the same site when Verolme Cork Dockyard had run the shipbuilding business that saw five patrol vessels commissioned for the Naval Service.

Her new owner Mr. Imhobio who is a resident for parts of the year in London had said the ship may call to capital. The decision to make an en-route call to the capital though remains subject to the cost of the diversion in both time and miles as part of her repositioning voyage to Nigeria.

 

Published in News Update

#ReformedCFP- By coincidence on today's public auction of decommissioned L.E. Emer, which carried out countless fishery maritime patrols, MEP's are to vote on the EU's new policy of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF): 2014-2020, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The EMFF is the third and final legislative file in the reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP) which has seen the fishing industry particularly dependent on subsidies down through the years.

The subsidies account for 40% of the landing price accounted for from both direct and indirect public funded monies. The upgrading of existing boats and new vessels provided by grants further accentuates problems by impacting on reducing fish stocks.

The Environmental Pillar are calling on MEP's to end years of over-fishing in the industry which has progressively led to lost jobs due to subsidiary-driven growth and renovation of the EU's trawler fleet.

The umbrella group comprises 26 national environmental organizations that campaign to protect and enhance the environment and also promote economic creation through sustainable eco-systems.

In addition Environmental Pillar are seeking increased financial aid to gather data collection, control and enforcement of the industry.

Among those making up the diverse group are: An Taisce, CoastWatch, Irish Whale & Dolphin Group, Irish Doctors' Environmental Association, Irish Natural Forestry Foundation and Zero Water Tolerance.

 

Published in Fishing

#NavalService – Two Irish-built navy patrol ships launched at Verolme Cork Dockyard, are to be sold off after 40 years of service according to the Herald.

LE Emer (P21) and a sister ship LE Aoife (P22) were built between 1978 and 1980 at the Rushbrooke shipyard near in Cobh, Co Cork.

The first ship of four in the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) class built in Cork in 1972, the LE Deirdre (P20) , was decommissioned in 2001 and sold for €190,000. She was later converted into a luxury yacht.

The two ships will be replaced by two new OPVs currently under construction in the UK.

 

Published in Navy

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