Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021
16. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to offers made for the removal and scrappage of the MV Alta wreck in Ballycotton, County Cork; if so, if these offers have been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26930/21]
View answerI wish to thank Deputy Buckley for raising this matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, the relevant legislation that allows for the removal of abandoned vessels in Irish waters such as that referred to by the Deputy is the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993. This Act gives effect to the 1989 International Convention on Salvage of which Ireland is a signatory state and sets out the roles and responsibilities of a number of bodies.
Section 40 of the Act provides that the Minister for Transport has the “general superintendence” of matters relating to wrecked or stranded vessels. The Act also sets out the responsibilities from an operational perspective for other bodies.
Sections 51 and 52 are of particular note with regard to the duty of the owner and appropriate authorities.
Section 51 places the initial responsibility for removing a wreck on the owner of the vessel. However, if the appropriate authority, in this case Cork County Council, considers the wreck is or is likely to become an obstruction or danger to navigation or a threat of harm to the marine environment, it shall proceed to raise and remove the wreck or otherwise render it harmless.
While the Act does allow for the removal of a wreck, it does not contain provisions in relation to the costs associated with the removal of a wreck where the sale of that wreck is not possible, and the owners of the vessel cannot be located. It is understood that no evidence of ownership or insurance has come to light yet in the case referred to by the Deputy.
As the appropriate authority under the Act, Cork County Council has taken the lead in dealing with the case in question and has taken a number of steps to date in their duties under the Act.
I understand that my Department received two initial queries from interested parties regarding the removal of the wreck and the parties were advised that they may wish to contact the appropriate authority, in this instance Cork County Council, to discuss the issue.
Officials from my Department have met with Cork County Council to discuss the matter and will continue to be available to support relevant authorities in the exercise of their functions as set out in the legislation in question.
