asked the Minister for the Marine the number of complaints which his Department have received of fishing boats being dragged by underwater vessels for the year 1987-88; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Complaints of Underwater Vessels.
13.
My Department have not received any complaints of fishing vessels being dragged by underwater vessels for the year 1987-88.
It has been established conclusively in one case only that a vessel was sunk in and around Irish waters by a submarine i.e. the M.F.V. Sharelga on the 18 April 1982. No lives were lost on that occasion. In another incident in 1984, the M.F.V. Oriel was dragged backwards in the Irish Sea. However, Malin Head coast radio Station received a report on 17 October 1988 that the M.F.V. Crystal Sea was being towed backward at approximately two knots in the Irish Sea approximately 12 miles off Wicklow Head. The cause of the problem was never definitively established. This incident occurred outside Irish territorial waters and did not involve Irish registered vessels.
Speculation on the involvement of submarines in fishing vessel casualties is fuelled by the apparently unaccountable sinking of many such vessels. However, preliminary inquiries into such incidents have shown, that fishing vessels may sink for a number of reasons such as, for example, structural defects, human error and unfavourable weather conditions.
I am concerned that every possible step should be taken to ensure that submarines operate in a responsible fashion vis-à-vis fishing vessels. To that end, and to minimise the danger posed to fishing vessels at sea by submerged submarines my Department brought the matter to the attention of the International Maritime Organisation — IMO — which is the London-based United Nations specialised agency responsible for safety at sea. As a result a resolution was passed by the IMO Assembly in November 1987 recommending that a submerged submarine, if information on the presence of a fishing vessel and its gear is available, as far as possible should keep out of the way of that fishing vessel and any gear connected to it unless the submarine is disabled.
It would also be helpful if fishing vessels which experience difficulties with submarines report such incidents promptly to the relevant maritime authority which in the case of Irish waters is the Marine Survey Office of the Department of the Marine.
Have the Minister's Department taken any steps, in particular with regard to the 12-mile limit of our jurisdiction, to ensure that submarines in those waters travel on the surface as is the requirement of international law? Has the Minister considered going beyond the International Maritime Organisation by way of bilateral approaches to the countries which are clearly identifiable — in effect three only — that are overcrowding the Irish Sea?
The question of submarines is one for the Minister for Defence or the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Of course, my Department have a very practical interest in submarine activity in so far as we have responsibility for the safety of life at sea. Obviously we would be interested in ascertaining whether any submarine activity would pose a hazard to other shipping. The Deputy is quite right in pointing out that submarines travelling inside the territorial limit must travel on the surface. We have made this requirement known regularly to the International Maritime Organisation with regard to any vessels travelling within our territorial waters. Indeed all countries would find themselves in a similar position; there would be unanimity on this matter.
Certainly we would like to have knowledge of any submarines travelling submerged inside the 12-mile limit. There was a recent incident when a submarine came to the assistance of a fishing vessel which had got into difficulties off the north coast when fortunately no lives were lost, and when they were most helpful. However, I realise the Deputy's intention was that at every available opportunity we have it made known to the various countries involved that submarines travelling within our territorial limit must travel on the surface displaying their flag.
In view of the confinements of the Irish Sea and its importance as a fishing area, would the Department consider supporting the initiative for a movement in the management of the sea toward the total ban of submarine traffic?
I can only recall that the reason for all the activity in the Irish Sea is that one of the ports used by the countries involved is Holylocke on the Scottish coast, from where they travel up and down the Irish Sea. Certainly it would make life much easier for everybody concerned if they decided to go north or west and down the west coast. However, I do not think it was the Deputy's intention to have the problem transferred from the east to the west coast.