Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2004
137 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he was informed of the mission of the Canadian submarine, the HMCS Chicoutimi, which foundered off the coast of Donegal on 5 October 2004; the equipment it had on board; and the reason the rescue attempt was delayed. [29184/04]
View answerThe Irish Coastguard, IRCG, of the Department carried out fully and effectively its responsibilities for both search and rescue, SAR, and pollution-salvage response in respect of this incident.
Under international law the Canadian submarine, the HMCS Chicoutimi, which suffered fire damage when in the Irish pollution responsibility zone, was entitled to freedom of navigation and was not required to seek Ireland’s consent for passage, to report navigation routes, or to advise of cargo or equipment transported. However, the Coast Guard was advised that the vessel was not a nuclear submarine.
When the submarine was in the UK SAR region the UK authorities carried out a rescue mission by air-lifting three crew from the submarine to Sligo hospital. During the short period when the submarine was in the Irish SAR region IRCG was not required to carry out any SAR mission.
In relation to pollution-salvage operations, IRCG agreed with the UK authorities, who acted for the Canadian Government, plans and procedures for salvage of the submarine. The towing vessel used in the salvage operations was brought from the north east of Scotland. However, while very poor weather conditions and very rough seas resulted in slower than usual arrival of the towing vessel at the scene of the incident and difficulty in securing of towing equipment to the submarine, salvage was successfully carried out and no pollution resulted from the incident.
