On Friday, 26 June, at 4.49 p.m. the Commissioners of Irish Lights tender Granuaile grazed a rock off the Maidens Lighthouse, County Antrim. There were no injuries to any of the 41 people on board. The Granuaile, which was holed and taking water in the engine room, was taken under tow and beached in Brown's Bay, Islandmagee, approximately one mile from Larne Harbour.
On 29 June 1992 the Minister appointed a surveyor of the Marine Survey Office of his Department to carry out a statutory inquiry under section 728 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. He has already begun work on the casualty and will report his findings to the Minister in due course. In line with the Minister's announcement to this House on 26 February last he will, subject to legal considerations, publish a report of this marine accident investigation.
The repair and-or temporary replacement of the damaged vessel would be matters for the Commissioners of Irish Lights who are the General Lighthouse Authority for the whole of Ireland. However, the Minister is assured by the commissioners that their service to shipping will not be compromised while the vessel is being repaired and that a replacement vessel, if required, would be available.