Proinsias De Rossa
Question:64 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the official report into the loss of the FV Exodus. [12790/01]
Written Answers - Marine Accidents.
On 22 March this year, I published the official report of the investigation into the collision between the British registered fishing vessel Sea Horse and the Irish fishing vessel Exodus which occurred on 9 March 1997 and which resulted in the sinking of Exodus and the death of her skipper, Mr. Daniel O'Driscoll. I take this opportunity to once again express my sincere sympathy to the relatives and friends of Mr. O'Driscoll.
The official report sets out fully the sequence of events which led to the collision and the subsequent attempt to rescue the crew of the Exodus. In summary, at the time of the collision the Sea Horse, which had its autopilot engaged, was attempting to overtake the Exodus. The Sea Horse suddenly swung rapidly to port towards the Exodus. The skipper of the Sea Horse changed from autopilot to tiller steering and put the rudder hard over to starboard and at the same time stopped the engines and put them full astern. The vessel did not answer the helm and the Sea Horse struck the Exodus on her starboard side a little forward of her wheelhouse breaching her hull from deck level to below the waterline. The Exodus foundered following the collision. All three members of her crew were picked up from the water by the Sea Horse– two deckhands from a life raft and the Skipper, Mr. Daniel O'Driscoll. Mr. O'Driscoll was subsequently airlifted to Cork Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The master of theSea Horse appeared before Bantry District Court on 11 April 1997. He was charged under section 419(2) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, with an infringement of the Collision Regulations (Ship and Water Craft on the Water) Order, 1984, as amended, in that he failed to ensure that his vessel kept out of the way of a vessel engaged in fishing as required by Rule 18(a)(iii) of the regulations. He pleaded guilty and was fined £750 with £250 costs.
Jan O'Sullivan
Question:65 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when the planned independent marine casualty investigation will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12791/01]
I am hopeful that I will soon be in a position to establish the Marine Casualty Investigation Board under the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act, 2000, as work on securing the necessary administrative supports for the new board is well advanced in my Department. The primary purpose of the Act is to provide for the enactment of a new legislative and procedural regime to regulate the entire area of marine casualty investigation which will replace the system established in 1894. A key provision of the Act is the establishment of an independent Marine Casualty Investigation Board with enhanced powers to investigate marine casualties and to publish reports within a specified timetable.