Marine Notice: Deployment of Static Acoustic Monitors in Shannon Estuary

24th July 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Two of the static acoustic monitors were set to be deployed in the estuary near Foynes Port Credit: Shannon Foynes Port Company/Facebook

The Department of Transport has been advised by Gas Networks Ireland that the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) have deployed five static acoustic monitors (SAMs) at various nearshore locations within the Shannon Estuary.

The deployment of the SAMs was scheduled to take place on Thursday 24 July, subject to operations and weather constraints, and they will remain in place for up to two years.

Maintenance visits are expected to occur every three to four months. Each deployment, maintenance and recovery operation is expected to last one day but will be subject to operational and weather constraints and the exact dates may be adjusted accordingly.

These devices are moored to the seabed and rise two metres. Each moored device was expected to consist of:

One mooring weight or plough anchor
A Sonardyne Lightweight Release Transponder (LRT) acoustic release system with rope canister
One or two hydrophones (SAM devices)
A single subsurface buoy

The deployment operation will be carried out by the vessel Lán Mara (callsign EIA2519). During operations, the vessel will be using VHF Channel 9 and will keep a listening watch on VHF Channel 16.

Coordinates and maps of the deployment areas, as well as contact details, can be found in Marine Notice No 45 of 2025 attached below.

Downloads

Marine Notice No 45 of 2025 (93 Downloads)

Published in Shannon Estuary

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Shannon Foynes Port Information

Shannon Foynes Port (SFPC) are investing in an unprecedented expansion at its general cargo terminal, Foynes, adding over two-thirds the size of its existing area. In the latest phase of a €64 million investment programme, SFPC is investing over €20 million in enabling works alone to convert 83 acres on the east side of the existing port into a landbank for marine-related industry, port-centric logistics and associated infrastructure. The project, which will be developed on a phased basis over the next five years, will require the biggest infrastructure works programme ever undertaken at the port, with the entire 83 acre landbank having to be raised by 4.4 metres. The programme will also require the provision of new internal roads and multiple bridge access as well as roundabout access.