asked the Minister for Transport and Power if there are any oil tankers in the fleet of vessels owned by Irish Shipping Limited.
42.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Shipping Limited.
41.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state the general policy of Irish Shipping Limited.
43.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the name and tonnage of each vessel owned by Irish Shipping Limited; and in each case the Irish ports they are capable of servicing.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 42 and 43 together.
The policy of Irish Shipping is, as a first priority, to provide and operate a fleet of at least 150,000 deadweight tons so that shipping will be available in time of emergency to meet national needs. As a second priority the company's policy is to operate profitably.
The names and deadweight tonnages of each vessel owned by the company are as follows:—
|
Vessel |
Deadweight Tonnage |
|
Irish Cedar |
15,670 |
|
Irish Plane |
15,670 |
|
Irish Elm |
38,333 |
|
Irish Stardust |
29,020 |
|
Irish Star |
29,020 |
|
Irish Pine |
25,679 |
|
Irish Maple |
25,679 |
|
Irish Larch |
25,679 |
|
Irish Oak |
25,679 |
|
Total |
230,429 |
There are no oil tankers in the fleet.
Irish Shipping also have a 50 per cent share in the car ferry, the St. Patrick, owned by Irish Continental Line Ltd. The Irish Plane and the Irish Cedar can berth at Dublin and Foynes fully laden and at Cork partly laden. The other vessels because of draught limitations are not able to berth at any Irish ports in the fully-laden condition but can enter Dublin on reduced draught. They can of course anchor in deeper water outside most Irish ports and offload to smaller vessels.
Would the Minister not consider, in view of the information given in that reply, that there is a necessity for Irish Shipping to acquire smaller coastal ships so that Irish Shipping will be able to service the major ports around our coast? It seems ludicrous——
Would the Deputy please avoid making statements?
——that of the number of ships owned by Irish Shipping, so few of them can enter an Irish port laden.
The original intention when Irish Shipping was set up, as I said in my reply, was that it should operate a fleet so that shipping would be available in time of emergency to meet national needs. At that time it was not specifically written into their articles of association but it was made clear to them that they should not compete with the normal coastal trade around Irish waters. That situation has changed since because many of the shipping companies that were doing this coastal trade have gone out of business.
Exactly.
But part of our policy—and this is the policy that was there for a number of years—is that there should be complete entry for ship owners of any nationality even to carry trade from coast to coast inside Irish waters, and I do not propose at the moment to change that policy.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that the main purpose and policy of Irish Shipping is to provide sea transport in time of emergency? I did not catch in the Minister's reply the number of ships owned by Irish Shipping that can enter Irish ports laden.
I said:
The Irish Plane and the Irish Cedar can berth at Dublin and Foynes fully laden and at Cork partly laden. The other vessels because of draught limitations are not able to berth at any Irish ports in the fully-laden condition but can enter Dublin on reduced draught. They can of course anchor in deeper water outside most Irish ports and offload to smaller vessels.
Therefore, if there is some difficulty at Dublin Harbour, then Irish Shipping will not be able to service any of the Irish ports——
No, that is not so.
Except two fully laden, and one half laden.
No. The Deputy must listen to what I am saying: "The other vessels because of draught limitations are not able to berth at Irish ports in the fully laden condition but can enter Dublin on reduced draught. They can of course anchor in deeper water outside most Irish ports and offload to smaller vessels."
That is not feasible.
It is.
(Interruptions.)
That is the trend of modern shipping.
Would Deputies cease the argument? Question No. 44.