#NEWS UPDATE - A recent Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises on the adoption of new international resolutions pertaining to SOLAS regulations and changes to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code.

The changes are intended to establish new stricter safety standards for lifeboat release and retrieval systems, aimed at preventing accidents during lifeboat launching, and will require the assessment and possible replacement of a large number of lifeboat release hooks.

Both of these changes are expected to come into force from 1 January 2013 with a view to full compliance by July 2019.

The Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organisation has also approved new guidelines for the evaulation and replaceent of lifeboat release systems, in which the DTTAS will require fall preventer devises, or FPDs, to be fitted.

Complete details for shipowners, ship operations, shipmasters and seafarers are included in Marine Notice No 54 of 2011, a PDF of which is available to read and download HERE.

#NEWS UPDATE - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) gives notice that the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Ani-Fouling Systems on Ships - known as the AFS Convention - will come into force for Irish-flagged ships on 20 January 2012.

Anti-fouling systems refer to paints or coatings applied to the hulls of vessels to prevent living organisms from attaching to them.

Currently all Irish-flagged ships of 400 gross tonnage and over are required to hold an Anti-Fouling Certificate, issued under Regulation (EC) No 782/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

The new regulations mean that any Irish-flagged ship which holds such a  Certificate must replace it with an International Certificate, issued under the AFS Convention.

The new convention applies to three separate groups: any and all ships of 400 gross tonnage and over; all ships (including fishing vessels) of 24 metres or greater in length; and all other vessels.

Details of requirements for these groups are included in Marine Notice No 55 of 2011, a PDF of which is available to read and download HERE.

#MARINE WARNING - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that offshore drilling has commenced off the south coast.

The semi-submersible drilling unit Arctic III (callsign YJSU9) will be drilling some 65km south of Roches Point, Co Cork, for a period of approximately three months.

The drilling unit will have a dedicated stand-by safety vessel and supply vessel, both listening on VHF channel 16 throughout the project.

All vessels, particularly those involved in fishing, are urged to give the drilling unit and its handling vessels a wide berth of at least 500 metres and to keep a sharp lookout in the area.

Full location co-ordinates and further details are included in Marine Notice No 53 of 2011, a PDF of which is available to read and download HERE.

The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport details the training requirements for the use of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) as a primary means of navigation.

Mandatory carriage requirements for ECDIS will be phased in between 1 July 2012 and 1 July 2018 according to ship size and class. All shipowners, masters and deck officers of merchant and fishing vessels, yachtsmen, nautical colleges and other users are required to complete both generic and ship specific training for the use of ECDIS.

The notice outlines the following as meeting the requirements for generic training:

• A NARAS Operational course completed after 1 January 2005.
• An ECDIS programme based on the IMO Model ECDIS course (1.27) approved by the Irish Maritime Administration. 
• An ECDIS programme based on the IMO Model ECDIS course (1.27) approved by the maritime administration of an EU Member State or by a country recognised by Ireland under STCW 78.

As far as ship-specific training, the following areas should be covered in training delivered by the ECDIS manufacturer (computer-based training packages are acceptable): 

• familiarisation with available functions
• familiarisation with the menu structure
• display setup
• setting of safety values
• recognition of alarms and malfunction indicators and the actions to be taken
• route planning
• route monitoring
• changing over to backup systems
• loading charts and licenses
• updating of software

Further details are available in Marine Notice No 51 of 2011, available to read or download as a PDF HERE.

The latest Marine Notice from the DTTAS advises all seafarers near Dundalk Bay and Carlingford Lough to give a wide berth to the hydrographic and oceanographic survey operation in the area this month.

The RV Celtic Voyager (callsign EIQN) will be carrying out survey operations between Kildeel and Clogherhead till 15 September.

The vessel will display lights and markers and will be towing different sensors from time to time with a single cable of up to 100m long.   

Deployment of water level recording equipment will be necessary on the seabed at certain locations. These will be marked with appropriate buoys and lights as well as Irish Coast Guard radio notices.

Details of the survey area are included in a PDF of Marine Notice No 44 of 2011, which is available to read or download HERE.

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all Masters and users of the Shannon Navigation of mooring and navigation restrictions in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sun 31st July 2011, to facilitate rowing competitions.

The regatta will be held on a 400 metre stretch of water immediately south of the town bridge commencing at 08.00hrs and finishing at approx. 18.00hrs on Sun 31st July 2011.

Craft wishing to make a through passage during the course of the regatta will be facilitated every 2 hrs approximately.

Waterways Ireland will commence monitoring access to the public floating jetties on Mon 25th of Jul.

Masters should note that ONLY vessels of an overall length of 22ft. / 6.8m or less will be permitted on the floating jetties from Fri 29th July to Sun 31st of July

This is necessary in the interest of marine safety and to facilitate the laying of the competition course.

Vessels berthed from Fri 16.00hr will be required to remain in place until racing finishes at approx 18.00hr on Sun 31st of July

No vessels should approach the jetties between 16.00hr Fri and approx. 18.00hr Sun as the entrance to the berths will be closed off and manoeuvring room will be severely restricted due to the proximity of the course.

Masters are advised to proceed at slow speed and with due caution and to take note of advice from course marshals when passing through the area.

Waterways Ireland takes this opportunity to thank its customers for their co-operation with these arrangements.
C.J.Lawn
Lt Cdr RNS
Inspector of Navigation
22 Jun 2010
Tel: 353 90 6494232 Fax: 353 90 6494147

Lough Key (North Shannon) -Erris Bay - Aids to Navigation

This notice supersedes Marine Notice No. 7 of 2011.

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters of vessels that recent works to place additional aids to navigation in the Erris Bay area of Lough Key are now complete.

These include new red and green conical markers plus two 'End of Navigation' markers as indicated in the attached drawing.

Please refer to the drawing for approximate locations of new and existing markers in this area.

Charles Lawn
Lt Cdr (rtd)
Inspector of Navigation
22 Jun 2011
Tel: 00 353 (0)90 6494232

Aquathon Events - Masters and owners are advised that the swimming elements of aquathon events will take place at the following locations:

Coosan Point – Lough Ree (south)
Wed 22 and Wed 29 Jun at 1900 hrs for 1 hr

Portrunny – Lough Ree (north west)
Sun 21 Aug at 1200 hrs for 3 hours

Masters of vessels are requested to proceed at slow speed and with minimum wash when passing this stretch of the navigation and to heed any advice or instructions issued by race officials.

Waterways Ireland thanks its customers for their cooperation in this matter.

C.J.Lawn
Lt Cdr (rtd)
Inspector of Navigation
22 Jul 2010

Tel: 353 90 6494232
Fax: 353 90 6494147

Waterways Ireland Inter-County Sailing Championship and Docklands Summer Festival 24, 25 and 26 June 2011

Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters and owners that as part of the Docklands Summer Festival, yacht racing will take place in the Grand Canal Basin from 09.00 hrs until 16.00hrs on Sun 26th June.

Course set up will take place between 10.00 hrs and 18hrs on Fri 24th while on Sat 25th, there will be a practice session from 13.00hrs until 19.00hrs.

In addition 'Come and Try It' activities including canoeing and paddle-boarding for novices will take place in the inner basin beside the Waterways Ireland Visitors Centre, from 10.00hrs until 18.00 on both days.

There will be restricted movement of vessels in the Grand Canal Basin during the events, lock operations will be suspended once the events have commenced.

Commercial operators in the Dock are requested to adhere to these restrictions and the planned routes and schedules for the duration of the event.

Boat owners presently in the Grand Canal Basin should comply with all reasonable instructions and guidance from event marshals.

Waterways Ireland thanks its customers for their cooperation in this matter

Charles Lawn
Lt Cdr (rtd)
Inspector of Navigation
22 Jun 2011.
Tel: 00 353 (0)90 6494232

Racers in Dalkey and Killiney Bay have been enjoying the sight of three bottlenose dolphins who have taken up residence in the area.

The trio has attracted much attention in recent weeks due to their playful antics, but the Dublin Bay Sailing Club reminds sightseeing boat owners to be careful not to crowd them.

For guidelines on the correct procedures when encountering dolphins see the relevant DTTAS Marine Notice HERE.