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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 1986

Vol. 369 No. 12

Private Notice Questions: - Damaged Oil Tanker.

asked the Minister for Communications if he is aware of the serious situation being created by the Italian tanker in Bantry Bay today; and if he is satisfied that all steps are being taken to avoid a major disaster.

The Department's Marine Survey Service have been carrying out an inspection of the vessel since this morning. The full extent of any damage will be determined when an underwater inspection of the vessel has been completed.

The operations group set up to deal with any incidents of oil pollution along our coasts under the aegis of the Minister for the Environment has been activated and is monitoring the situation at the scene. Cork and Kerry County Councils are also on standby in the event of a major oil spillage occurring and threatening the shore.

The Deputy can be assured that all relevant agencies have been alerted and that all feasible precautions that can be taken at this stage have been taken.

Do I take it that there are adequate fire-fighting provisions in the bay to deal with any emergency because, to my knowledge, there is no fire-fighting tug nearer to Bantry Bay than Whitegate. Should a serious explosion occur, as happened in the case of the Betelgeuse, what facilities have the local authority in that area to cope with such an emergency?

The situation is that an officer of the Marine Survey Service is now on the vessel in Bantry Bay. He is carrying out an inspection of the vessel to assess the risk of oil spillage and to ascertain what action, if any, should be taken by the Department regarding the vessel and its cargo. In regard to the point about fire danger the Deputy has just raised, I should say that the Department's Marine Survey Service advised at mid-day today that there is no evidence of oil pollution or leakage from the vessel and that the full extent of any damage will be determined when the underwater inspection of the vessel has been completed. We were advised there was some evidence of an oil leak subsequently but this appears to have stopped. However, just before coming into the House we had a call from the Department representative there. The message was that there is no leak. The further information is that the divers have arrived on the site and it will be possible to carry out the underwater survey today. All necessary precautions are being considered and in the light of any finding by the investigators all necessary steps will be taken.

I should like to ask the Minister to allay any fears of the possibility of a major explosion. It is a well-known fact that it was a serious crack in the ballast tank of the Betelgeuse which caused the explosion and the dreadful fire which occurred a few years ago in that bay. In view of the importance of the mariculture industry — the only industry we have in that bay — will the Minister give an assurance to the House that he will order the tanker out of the bay as quickly as possible and to a safe berthage from the point of view of fire precautions and so on?

That is the final question.

The request for the tanker to come into the bay was made because of the danger to life and the danger to the ship. As I said, we have just had a report from the Marine Survey Service and there are people on board at present. The response by all agencies involved in this was immediate. The Valentia lifeboat and a helicopter were requested at the time but they were not necessary. Perhaps under its own steam the tanker will be able to leave. I assure the Deputy that all precautions will be taken and naturally so because of the dangers the Deputy pointed out and the difficulties that could arise. I am very conscious of what could happen to Bantry Bay and of the sad experience there in previous times.

Can I ask——

The Deputy is trespassing on the patience of the Chair.

I wish to ask one final question. Is the Minister aware that the tanker dropped anchor early this morning on the outskirts of Bantry Bay near the Roancarrig lighthouse? With the weighing of the anchor, it could cause stress on the crack which could cause a serious explosion. Will the Minister get immediate advice from his marine engineers on the danger the weighing of the anchor may have on the vessel before she departs?

I can assure the Deputy we have the best experts possible there. The reason they are there is because of their expertise and any possible eventuality is naturally being considered. While I hope there will be no difficulty, naturally we have to take into consideration all posibilities. These are being covered in so far as it is humanly possible with the resources at our disposal. I am confident it will be handled in the best possible manner. As I said, just before I came into the House I got the latest report from our people aboard the ship.

Will the Minister make an unequivocal statement to the public to allay the fears that exist with regard to the boat in Bantry Bay, to remove any doubts, fears or concerns that are in the minds of all the people in the Bantry Bay area? We would all appreciate if the Minister could do so this afternoon.

I have given the House the benefit of the very latest information. That information just given to us is that there is no leak and no spillage. Final investigations have to be carried out by underwater examination. The people who will carry out that work have now arrived on the scene and we hope it will be possible to do so. There will not be a final analysis of the position until the underwater examination is carried out. I would be delighted if I could give an unequivocal and total assurance that there is no danger at all.

Will the Minister not agree that the position with regard to the ballast tank is one of the prime causes for the concern? Will he give some attention to that?

We are giving attention to every possible eventuality. Our experts are there and we are doing so as quickly as possible. We cannot undo what has happened but within the framework of what is there we are doing our very best.

I would like to ask——

We are on this question for a good while.

I want to ask the Minister if he can tell the House who instructed or advised the ship to go into Bantry Bay?

The request was made to allow the ship to go into Bantry Bay in very rough weather on the grounds of safety of life — there are 32 crewman on board — and also on the grounds of the safety of the ship. The request was made, as happens in these cases, to the chief marine survey officer.

He advised them?

That is right.

Deputy Séamus Kirk has been given permission to put a question on Private Notice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Will he please read the question?

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