Written Answers. - Marine Accidents.
Austin Deasy
Question:
53
Mr. Deasy
asked the
Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources
the plans he has to set up a coastguard system which will provide a mechanism whereby all boat owners putting to sea would have to notify the coastguard of their intended course so it would be easier to locate them in cases of mishap.
[16768/00]
I have no immediate plans to provide a mechanism whereby all boat owners putting to sea have to notify the coastguard of their intended course in case of mishaps in order to assist in their location, if necessary.
However, there are a number of existing measures under which boat users are encouraged to take responsibility for their own safety at sea. The coastguard of my Department operates a traffic report arrangement under which boat users are encouraged to advise the coastguard of their plans when they are setting out to sea. This is not a mandatory arrangement, however. Also, under my Department's safety initiative, boat owners have been invited to join the yacht and boat safety scheme, whereby they provide details of their craft and equipment and this record is held by the coastguard.
In addition the EC HAZMAT directive of 1993 contains reporting requirements for vessels bound for or leaving Community ports and carrying dangerous or polluting goods.
The report of the Irish emergency towing vessel study published in January of this year had as one of its recommendations that the marine safety information services should be extended to incorporate the functions of a vessel traffic management information service as a means of monitoring vessel movements around the Irish coast. Such a scheme would facilitate the coastguard staff by providing them with a traffic image of vessels in its area of responsibility. The recommendation of this report have been accepted in principle by Government and will be fully examined by my Department.
The installation of VHF digital selective calling has been completed by the coastguard, making Ireland a global maritime distress and safety system area A1 and A2 country. The DMDSS provides for an improved reception of distress alerts and these alerts contain the identification of the vessel in distress as well as the position of the vessel. All vessels required to comply with the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, 1974, are expected to be equipped with the shipboard portion of the GMDSS.
The Deputy should also know that a departmental group, modelled on the principles of partnership and consisting of staff, unions and management, has commenced the assessment of the IMES expenditure review, including the recommendations concerning a coastguard, and will identify the necessary organisational and service delivery changes which might arise with a view to maintaining and enhancing the high quality provision of search and rescue and pollution response in our marine and littoral areas.
