Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 4

Written Answers. - Irish Shipping Statistics.

Ivan Yates

Question:

76 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the details of types of all registered Irish ships operating commercially for each of the last five years; and if he has any estimates as to the number of people employed in the Irish shipping industry.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Wilson)

The following table shows the number and types of ships together with gross and deadweight, tonnage totals for the years 1985 and 1990. Details for the intervening years are available on request from the Superintendent, Mercantile Marine Office, Eden Quay, Dublin 2.

Type	Dry Cargo	Passenger	Tanker	Container	Misc.	Total
1986	43	6	7	10	2	68
1987	38	6	8	11	2	65
1988	40	7	8	10	8	73
1989	42	8	8	10	7	75
1990	46	9	9	10	8	82

The total deadweight tonnage of the fleet in each of the above years was as follows: 1986, 141,926; 1987, 148,529; 1988, 157,007; 1989, 167,708; 1990, 190,319.

It is estimated that approximately 1,200 people are directly employed by shipping companies whose vessels are registered under the Irish flag. However there are also a considerable number of people employed in ancillary activities such as ship agency, ship survey, pilotage, bunkerage, warehousing, etc., whose employment arises from shipping. As many of these employees are also engaged in areas not directly related to the shipping industry, it is difficult to accurately estimate their number.