#WreckSurvey- Survey work for possible wrecks within Dun Laoghaire Harbour as previously reported, have the port company confirmed are related to the preparation of a planning application to An Bord Pleanala for a proposed new cruise pier berth, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In order to handle the 'next generation' of considerably larger capacity cruise ships with deeper drafts to dock inside the harbour at the proposed €15m cruise berth jetty would require dredging in the harbour channel. Any wrecks found that are deemed of archaeological significance must be made known before a dredging license can be granted.

It transpires no wrecks were found inside the harbour following searches by Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) catamaran RV Keary which carried out an EIS on behalf of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company. The works included some timbers located under a rock outside along the East Pier wall, though the timbers are long known about and were found by trainee divers many years ago.

Since the Dun Laoghaire Harbour reopened the cruise industry to the east-coast town in recent years after an absence of more than a decade, larger cruise ships still have to make anchorage calls offshore. Smaller cruise ships such as Serenissima berthed at Carlisle Pier which is opposite to the East Pier site of the 'Urban Beach Project' recently granted planning permission.

The proposed cruise berth jetty which would jut out from the Dun Laoghaire Marina's eastern breakwater and this would form an integral component of the harbour's 'masterplan' which is to develop new business in a port listed as one of five ports of regional significance.

Added to this is notably the future of the Stena Line service to Holyhead re-opening? in 2015 remains much in doubt. According to The Irish Times, should Stena Line pull operations from the port, sources estimated the move could cost the harbour company €7 million in lost revenue.

The harbour company plans to expand the cruise ship sector for 2015, in which next year's season as previously reported is to generate a record total of cruise passengers to the harbour and neighbouring Dublin Port.