Vol. 395 No. 3
Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the present position regarding the rescue operation for the crippled bulk carrier, the Tribulus; if the ship is to be allowed enter Irish waters; in view of the forecast of further severe weather and the experience in 1986 with the Kowloon Bridge, the steps which are being taken to ensure that no damage is caused to the coastal or marine environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement on the plight of the oil tanker Tribulus which is in difficulty off the Irish coast; if he will give an assurance that lives are not in danger; the present position in this regard; if the Irish emergency service was and is adequate to deal with the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement about the measures being taken to ensure that the damage to the carrier Tribulus will not result in loss of life, or in the risk of pollution off the Irish coast.
At 11.35 a.m. on Monday, 5 February, the UK authorities informed the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Shannon that the Isle of Man registered bulk carrier MV Tribulus was holed and taking in water at a position 48.30 degrees north, 15 degrees west (270 nautical miles south-west of Mizen Head). The UK Coastguard at Falmouth were responsible for co-ordinating the response, since this incident took place in the UK search and rescue region.
The vessel is 68,000 gross registered tons and was carrying 122,000 tonnes of iron ore from Seven Islands in Canada to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Twenty-five persons were on board.
Two RAF Sea Kings from Brawdy, South Wales, and one Royal Navy Sea King from Culdrose, Cornwall were dispatched to Cork to carry out the rescue. One Sea King helicopter refuelled at the Irish Lights helicopter pad at Castletownbere and flew to the casualty which at that time (17.10 on Monday, 5 February) was 230 nautical miles south west of Mizen Head. The two other Sea Kings remained on standby, one at Castletownbere and the other at Cork Airport.
Ten crew were lifted off and brought to Cork at 22.23 on Monday night. The rescue was carried out at the limit of the range of the helicopter and with exemplary courage and skill, given the sea conditions.
The current situation is that the vessel is making for Bantry Bay under its own steam at a speed of 7 knots. Its expected time of arrival is 4 a.m. on Wednesday 7 February. The vessel is being accompanied by the tug Salano which was diverted on a voyage from Cobh to the Azores to assist. In addition the LE Eithne is alongside.
The Air Corps helicopter based at Shannon has been dispatched to Whiddy Island, Bantry where it is refuelled and on standby. The vessel has approximately 550 tonnes of heavy fuel oil on board, which is leaking slowly. Therefore, there is a risk of oil pollution from this vessel. A pollution operations group, under the chairmanship of a marine surveyor of my Department have been activated and will take responsibility for the direction and control of operations to prevent or minimise pollution damage. The group are expected to convene at Bantry this afternoon. Counter-pollution equipment, at this moment, is being loaded at Cork on the Irish Lights tender Gray Seal for transport to Bantry Bay. More is being flown in from Southampton. I have asked for the help of his Excellency, the British Ambassador, in progressing this matter. In addition, Cork County Council and the Naval Service are putting their stocks of dispersant at the disposal of the pollution operations group.
I consider that, unless there are grave reasons to the contrary, we should always provide shelter to vessels in distress. On the basis of the information available to me following an inspection by the LE Eithne, I intend to permit the vessel to take refuge in Bantry Bay in the interests of safety of life. If the vessel was refused admission there would be a serious risk to the life of the crew. In the event of the crew abandoning the vessel outside a haven, the drifting vessel would present a major hazard to navigation and a possible threat to the Kinsale Head gas platforms. Moreover, as experience has shown with the Kowloon Bridge, there would be a greater threat of pollution damage to the environment from an uncontrolled vessel than from one manned and assisted by other vessels.
Subject to weather conditions the arrival of the vessel in Bantry Bay will be planned to occur at dawn — that is somewhat later than in the normal course of events — at which stage a final inspection would be made prior to clearance for entry.
The owners of the vessel, Shell Oil Tankers, which is fully insured, have offered all possible assistance in dealing with the vessel and any threat of pollution. The UK Department of Transport are also helping. At 1 p.m. this afternoon, the vessel was 100 miles south-west of Mizen Head.
I thank the Minister for that comprehensive reply. Has he established the cause of the tear in the vessel, the condition and age of the vessel and if there is a danger of further damage to the vessel with a consequential risk of environmental pollution?
In reply to the Deputy, the ten metre by three metre long plate of strong steel has split. It is a plate covering a hatch which is not loaded. Hatches 2, 4, 6 and 8 are empty. The in-between hatches are loaded with roughly 25,000 tonnes of iron ore. Hatch 8, the one that is damaged, did not have iron ore in it so, consequently the damage to the plate — I understand with this type of steel that if there is a small crack it runs along — did not lighten the vessel, so to speak The hatch has been broken and that is now filled with the requisite tonnage of water. The LE Eithne has reported that the damage cannot be seen except when there is a roll to port. The damage is on the starboard side. The ship is a product of one of the Japanese yards and is quite young.
I thank the Minister for his reply. In view of what he has just said, is he satisfied that this ship which I understand was built in 1982, is, in fact, seaworthy? Is he not concerned that this purpose-built ship — and not a converted ship — should spring this leak in only galeforce 9 weather conditons? What action can he take, as a Minister in an island nation, to ensure that the seagoing vesels around this coast are safe and what sanctions are available to him in that regard? What action is he taking to ensure that no damage occurs? In the event of any pollution damage occurring around our coastline what action is he taking to ensure that Shell Oil will meet the bill for whatever problems may arise?
The ship, as I indicatd, was on route from Canada to Rotterdam. It was outside of our territorial waters and, in the normal course of events, would not be of any concern to us. Therefore, I do not think I can assume any responsibility for the quality of the ship. It was built by a reputable Japanese shipyard and is quite a young ship. I must say that the Shell company have been more than forthcoming in the guarantees — including a guarantee in writing — that they will deal with any damage that occurs.
I would like to compliment the Minister on the comprehensive reply to my question but I would also like to say that there are reports that the vessel is leaking oil. While the saving of life is paramount, is the Minister satisfied that he can cope with any pollution in the Bantry Bay area if the ship is allowed to berth there?
I think I can give that guarantee to the Deputy. The LE Eithne reported that there is a light sheen of oil; they have sailed around the ship on a number of times and have inspected it as closely as possible. With regard to protection in Bantry Bay, I have indicated what supplies are now on the way to Bantry Bay to confine any possible pollution.
Perhaps a final question from Deputy O'Keeffe.
I wish to focus on that aspect. While I accept, of course, that we have to render all aid to ensure the safety of the crew, I am concerned, too, about the pollution aspect in Bantry Bay. While it is all very well to take action by way of having dispersants available, is there any way we can stop the pollution either by way of ensuring that as soon as the ship arrives the leak is repaired or, alternatively, that the fuel oil aboard is offloaded? In other words, I want to prevent pollution. I do not want our beaches in west-Cork destroyed with oil from this ship.
I can assure the Deputy that action will be taken with regard to that point. As I indicated to the House, there are 550 tonnes of oil on board. This compares with 2,000 tonnes in the case of the Kowloon Bridge, to put the matter in focus. However, it would be too many tonnes if it got into Bantry Bay and we are putting in place the dispersants and folding ramps — for want of a better name — to keep the oil tight to the ship. With regard to inspection, until it is anchored and until divers can get down to assess the damage and there is a list to port — it is at the watermark and does not show fully — no repairs can be carried out. I can assure the Deputy, if he is worried about the pollution aspect, that second only to the saving of lives the control of the pollution is our concern.
Order, I will allow a final and very brief supplementary from Deputy Michael Noonan.
(Limerick East): I would like to thank the Minister for his very full reply but I did not understand it fully. It seems from the Minister's reply that the split on the particular steel plate is in a hatch which is empty.
Yes.
(Limerick East): Consequently, how is there a leak of heavy fuel oil if the hatch is empty, or is there further damage about which the Minister has not informed the House or, is the Minister giving permission for a ship to come into Bantry Bay which is leaking oil from damage of which he is not aware?
That is not so. As far as LE Eithne is concerned, they have identified a slight exhaust escape of oil. They call it a light sheen. There is no major spillage. In my reply I indicated that there is a danger of spillage and we are putting in place arrangements to cope with that.
Mrs. Taylor-Quinn rose.
That must be the end of questions for today; order, please.
On a point of order——
That is the end of Question Time.
——in the course of answering Question No. 2 on today's Order Paper, the Taoiseach indicated to me that he would provide certain information before the end of Question Time. As Question Time is about to conclude, may I ask the Taoiseach if he intends giving me that information in the House or in written form?
I have a letter here for the Deputy.
Let us proceed to the Order of Business.
