On Friday (24 February) Marine Minster Charlie McConalogue visited the site of the new deep-water quay development under construction at the State-owned Fishery Harbour Centre in Ros an Mhíl, Co Galway.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the new development will be accessible to large vessels such as Naval Service vessels, Marine Institute research vessels, marine survey vessels and marine leisure craft alongside the fishing fleet.

The project is being funded through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.

The site of the new Deep-Water quay development under construction at the State-owned Fishery Harbour Centre at Ros an Mhíl, Galway

Welcoming the commencement of the works, the minister said: “In this case, we are ‘making ground’ rather than breaking it, to add 200 metres of quayside to this facility so we can accommodate larger fishing vessels and attract additional landings from both Irish and non-Irish fishing vessels.”

In 2021, almost 90% of all fish landed into Ireland was into the six State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres. At Ros an Mhíl, these landings were valued at around €15.9 million.

This primary production is critical to supplying the downstream indigenous seafood processing and export industries and in sustaining the livelihoods of coastal communities, the department days, adding that the importance of these primary and secondary food production activities are reflected in the government’s Food Vision 2030 policy.

Minister Charlie McConalogue (left) with Michael Mannion, Director of Ward and Burke (Contractors) at the sod-turning event for the new Deep Water Quay Development at the Rossaveal Fishery Harbour Centre. (Forbairt Ché Dhomhain, Lárionad Chuan Iascaigh Ros An Mhíl) Photo: Fennell Photography

Minister McConalogue said: “This critical infrastructure further demonstrates the importance this government places on safeguarding the future of our fisheries dependent coastal communities. By providing a first-class landing infrastructure, we are ensuring the seafood industry can operate effectively and be efficiently serviced in this region.“”

The deep-water quay is a flagship project under the department’s 2023 Capital Programme. The appointed contractor, Ward & Burke Construction Limited, commenced works on site at the end of January and it is expected that the project will be completed by December 2024.

The Minister concluded by saying: “With this investment, this government is recognising Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre as an economic hub with potential for downstream development and job creation in this region.

“It is fitting that a local company, Ward and Burke Construction Ltd, is undertaking the works and I have every confidence that other local businesses will seize the opportunities provided by this development in time.”

Deep-water quay works have begun this week at Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre in Co Galway, just weeks after the contractor was announced for the €30 million project.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the new Ros an Mhíl development will be accessible to large vessels such as Naval Service vessels, Marine Institute research vessels, marine survey vessels and marine leisure craft.

The works were set to begin on Monday 30 January, will be ongoing until December 2024 and include, but are not limited to, the following main elements:

• Construction of a new 200m-long quay wall structure, including all associated infilling and land reclamation;
• Construction of reclamation area of circa 2.4 hectares to act as a quay/storage hinterland area;
• Dredging of a 30m wide x 200m long berthing pocket adjacent to the new quay to a depth of -10.0m Chart Datum;
• Dredging of a navigation channel and turning circle to a depth of -7.0m A;
• Provision of all water and electrical services;
• Heavy-duty pavement surfacing to new quay structure area;
• Ancillary marine facilities and services; and
• Security and access arrangements for quay facilities.

The works are being advanced by civil engineering crews working from the adjacent lands, existing harbour infrastructure and from jack-up barges, pontoons, heavy civil engineering plant and machinery, work vessels and platforms. Divers are also employed on site.

For safety reasons, mariners are advised to proceed slowly and with caution in the approach channel to the inner harbour and within the inner harbour area and to give the works a clear berth. Wave-wash from vessels should be avoided.

For contact details and a plan of proposed works, see Marine Notice No 8 of 2023, attached below.

Today, Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue T.D., appointed a contractor with a €30m contract for developing a Deep-Water quay in Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre.

Welcoming the signing of the works contract with the contractor Ward & Burke Construction Limited, the Minister said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce the successful outcome of the tender competition for the Deep-Water Quay project, which will provide an additional 200 metres of quayside to accommodate larger fishing vessels and attract additional landings from both Irish and non-Irish fishing vessels.”

Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre has 325 metres of quayside but is limited in deep water to a maximum of -5.8 metres chart datum and experiences congestion in busy fishing seasons. The new development will be accessible to large vessels such as Irish Navy vessels, Marine Institute Research Vessels, marine survey vessels and marine leisure craft.

The Minister went onto say that: “Our Fishery Harbour Centres are critical infrastructure for the seafood industry and Ros an Mhíl is a clear example of how these facilities stimulate economic activity for the surrounding rural coastal communities with the potential for downstream development and jobs. 

In summing up, the Minister said: “This project is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to addressing the impacts of Brexit on the fishing sector and to a strong future for Ireland’s seafood primary producers. I expect the project to commence in January 2023 and to be completed by September 2024.”

The project will be funded through the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.

As Afloat reported earlier today, Minster McConalogue today announced that a deepwater quay facility is to be built at the State-owned Fishery Harbour Centre at Ros an Mhíl, Galway. The project will be funded through the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.

Announcing the decision to proceed with the project, the Minister commented “Our Fishery Harbour Centres are critical to the seafood industry and Ros an Mhíl is a clear example of how these facilities stimulate economic activity for the surrounding rural coastal communities. Today’s announcement is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to addressing the impacts of Brexit on the sector and to a strong future for Ireland’s seafood primary producers.”

"In 2020 just under 90% of all fish landed into Ireland arrived at the Fishery Harbour Centres"

In 2020 just under 90% of all fish landed into Ireland arrived at the Fishery Harbour Centres. At Ros an Mhíl these landings were primarily from Irish vessels and valued at €7m. The deep-water quay being announced today will provide an additional 200m of quayside and over 70% greater depth to accommodate larger fishing vessels and attract additional landings from both Irish and non-Irish fishing vessels. At present the Harbour has 325m of quayside but is limited in deep water to a maximum of -5.8m chart datum and experiences congestion in busy fishing seasons. An additional 4Ha of land with laydown/development potential will be added to the Harbour Centre as part of the works. The new facilities will bring Ros an Mhíl closer in line with those available in Killybegs and Castletownbere.

Minister Charlie McConalogue announces that a deep water quay facility is to be built at the State-owned Fishery Harbour Centre at Ros an Mhil, Galway. Photo Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography

The Minister noted the commitment of local stakeholders to the project: “When I visited last October I was impressed by the ambitions held here in the local community for Ros an Mhíl. There is huge potential for downstream development and jobs when this project comes on line and I have every confidence that this opportunity will be embraced and harnessed for the benefit of Connemara.”

Planning permission for the project was received in 2017. The Department will now proceed with procurement for detailed design of the quay with a view to tendering for construction later in the year. The project is anticipated to cost up to €25m excluding VAT, but the exact costing will only be clear when detailed design work is complete and an open tendering competition has taken place. It is expected that the construction work will take up to 28 months to complete.

Ros an Mhíl/Rossaveal could become a hub for marine renewable energy projects, if plans by Údarás na Gaeltachta come to fruition.

The board of the Gaeltacht authority has recently approved funding to plan the development of a 30-acre site it owns near the Connemara harbour.

Údarás na Gaeltachta says its study will include a review of the marine renewable energy sector and its potential opportunities, as well as “the requirements and advantages that Ros an Mhíl harbour and Gaeltacht companies have to meet future demands and to benefit from same”.

The organisation says renewable energy will be central to its 2021-2025 strategy, which is set for publication early next year, adding that Ros an Mhíl “has been long identified by Údarás na Gaeltachta as a strategic resource”.

Chair of the board Anna Ní Ghallachair said: “We are happy that Údarás na Gaeltachta will be in a position to undertake this study on the opportunities for renewable energy in the Ros an Mhíl area.

“This is a strategic sector for Údarás, and indeed for the whole country. If we are to halt climate change, we must avail of all opportunities there are to generate clean energy.”

Údarás na Gaeltachta hopes to issue tenders on etenders in the weeks ahead so that work can commence early in the new year.

The news comes after similar moves have been mooted for the Shannon Estuary, while in Cork a new strategic partnership aims to improve communication with the wider marine community as the pace of offshore wind farm development picks up.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, is today travelling to Ros an Mhíl to see for himself the operation underway to attempt to refloat the large merchant vessel which ran aground in the harbour early this morning.

Minister Coveney is meeting the Harbour Master and will be briefed by the various agencies who are involved in the operation, including the Irish Coast Guard, Galway County Council and the ship's representatives and will be given a full assessment of the current situation and the contingency arrangements being put in place by the agencies involved for the next few days.

The Minister said "I am anxious to see the situation for myself and to express my support to all involved in this multi-agency operation. While this is obviously a very serious and evolving situation, I have full confidence in the Harbour Master and his staff, the Coast Guard and the other agencies involved to do a fully professional job to address the current situation. The purpose of my visit is to reassure all those concerned that this incident is getting the priority it deserves. I am especially concerned to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to protect the harbour and the local environment and to avoid any pollution during the very challenging efforts to refloat the vessel. "

The current situation and the weather forecast are being carefully monitored by the Coast Guard. Initial investigations, including evidence from divers, indicate no apparent damage to the vessel and no pollution has been reported. Meanwhile, the vessel's owners are in the process of organising tugs to help move it from its current position.