Charles Flanagan
Question:30 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will give details of the investigation into the ramming of the MV Renegade fishing trawler 28 miles off the Dublin coast. [3557/00]
Written Answers. - Marine Accidents.
On Sunday, 25 July 1999, an unidentified vessel was in collision with the Irish fishing vessel Renegade in the Irish Sea. The unidentified vessel which was heading on a southerly course did not stop after the incident. The FV Renegade was holed as a result of the collision and took water in the engine room. Pumps were put on board by the emergency services and these were used to lower the water level in the engine room and enable the vessel to reach port.
An investigation into this collision is currently being carried out under section 728 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, by a surveyor from the marine survey office of my Department and various lines of inquiry are being followed to try to establish the identity of the merchant vessel which collided with the FV Renegade.
It is a basic tenet of maritime law that the flag state is responsible for the regulation of its vessels' behaviour in international waters. I am advised by the chief surveyor from the marine survey office that the flag state of a suspected other vessel involved in the incident has been contacted with details of the collision and requested to provide assistance to the marine survey office in their investigation. It is intended that my Department's investigation into this collision will be completed once all relevant information has been received from the flag state which has been contacted in the matter.