Displaying items by tag: Drought

27th August 2022

Belgium: Flemish Waterways Effectively Closed to Boaters Amid Historic Drought

Inland waterways in Ghent and other popular areas in the Flanders region of Belgium have been effectively closed to pleasure boating as a result of historic drought conditions across continental Europe.

Marine Industry News reports on the move by Flemish Waterways, which has declared that leisure vessels may only pass through locks alongside commercial traffic.

“In concrete terms, this means that pleasure craft are no longer possible on waterways with very little or no commercial shipping,” Flemish Waterways said in a statement.

The organisation adds that recent heavy rains and forecasted rainfall will not be enough to restore its watercourses to safety navigable levels any time soon.

Moreover, there are growing concerns about water supply throughout Belgium with use restrictions being mooted for next month as the drought continues.

Marine Industry News has more on the story HERE.

Published in Inland Waterways

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15th September 2018

Flooded Homestead Re-emerges From Wicklow Reservoir

The ‘island’ holds the ruins of a farmhouse and abandoned machinery on elevated land that was flooded in 1940

#Poulaphuca - The remains of an old homestead submerged by the Poulaphuca Reservoir have resurfaced, as RTÉ News reports.

Images captured by the Garda Air Support Unit in Wicklow clearly show the ruins of a house and a piece of farm machinery.

The ‘island’ was revealed by the retreat of reservoir waters in the recent summer drought that saw remarkable archaeological finds nationwide — as well as an ‘ÉIRE’ sign on Bray Head dating from the Second World War.

While patrolling the Wicklow division The Garda Air Support Unit noticed the ruins of a homestead and a piece of farm machinery (mowing bar) on a raised piece of land which had previously been submerges in the lakes. pic.twitter.com/JIco4vlgit
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) September 14, 2018

The farm was one of a number of properties abandoned before the valley was flooded to create Poulaphuca in 1940.

Published in News Update

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4th September 2014

Possible 'Underground' Solution To Aran Islands Water Shortage

#AranIslands - 'Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink' has never been more true for residents of the Aran Islands who are facing their worst ever water shortage.

Now BreakingNews.ie reports on a call on Irish Water to tap into the newly discovered network of underground rivers believed to run beneath the islands and throughout Galway Bay to provide a lifeline for Aran's communities.

Tiernan Henry from NUI Galway's Earth and Ocean Sciences department says geological surveys for the freshwater aquifier systems believed to extend throughout the bay could lead to an invaluable source of fresh water for people on Inis Mean and Inis Oirr in particular, who have been forced to use water brought in from the mainland at great expense – around €1 per litre.

BreakingNews.ie has much more on the story HERE.

Published in Island News

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20th November 2010

To Russia with ‘Potatoes’

As a severe drought grips Russia, over 2,500 tonnes of potatoes were loaded on board the mv Blankenese in Drogheda yesterday. The vessel was bound for St. Petersberg and a further three shipments are scheduled in the new export trade, according to the Drogheda Port Company.

In total 10,000 tonnes of potatoes (roosters, kerr pinks and whites) are to be exported to Russia. The new trade has boosted a yield of 30% in prices for Irish farmers and follows a bumper growing season with an oversupply of 50,000 tonnes on an annual domestic consumption of 350,000 tonnes.

Asides the cash crop, Drogheda Port has established shipping trades routes in the carriage of containers units, fertilizers, magnesite, LPG and newsprint. In addition the Co. Louth port operates the country's only weekly service to Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Published in Ports & Shipping

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Irish Sailing

The Irish Sailing Association, also known as Irish Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.

Founded in 1945 as the Irish Dinghy Racing Association, it became the Irish Yachting Association in 1964 and the Irish Sailing Association in 1992.

Irish Sailing is a Member National Authority (MNA) of World Sailing and a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The Association is governed by a volunteer board, elected by the member clubs. Policy Groups provide the link with members and stakeholders while advising the Board on specialist areas. There is a professional administration and performance staff, based at the headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Core functions include the regulation of sailing education, administering racing and selection of Irish sailors for international competition. It is the body recognised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for nominating Irish qualified sailors to be considered for selection to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games. Irish sailors have medalled twice at the Olympics – David Wilkins and Jamie Wikinson at the 1980 games, and Annalise Murphy at the 2016 games.

The Association, through its network of clubs and centres, offers curriculum-based training in the various sailing, windsurfing and powerboating disciplines. Irish Sailing qualifications are recognised by Irish and European Authorities. Most prominent of these are the Yachtmaster and the International Certificate of Competency.

It runs the annual All-Ireland Championships (formerly the Helmsman’s Championship) for senior and junior sailors.

The Association has been led by leading lights in the sailing and business communities. These include Douglas Heard, Clayton Love Junior, John Burke and Robert Dix.

Close to 100 sailors have represented Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership of Irish Sailing is either by direct application or through membership of an affiliated organisation. The annual membership fee ranges from €75 for families, down to €20 for Seniors and Juniors.