Vol. 397 No. 2
2 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Marine the overall cost to this country of the clean-up operation in the aftermath of the Kowloon Bridge wreck; the amount, if any, which is still outstanding; the efforts which are being made to recoup such expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Limerick West): Casualties such as the Kowloon Bridge and, more recently, the Tribulus have highlighted Ireland's vulnerability to threats of marine pollution. Ireland's location close to Atlantic shipping lanes and our volatile climate expose us to the possibility of having to deal with marine casualties. Our experience in recent years has made us acutely aware of the dangers and costs to the environment and the economy, through damage to the fishing, aquaculture and tourism industries of casualties at sea.
The Government are committed to preventing pollution and to responding with an immediate and efficient clean up operation to deal with any pollution which arises. We have, unfortunately, gained some practical experience in recent years and have used this experience to streamline and tighten up our response to marine emergencies. A first priority is, obviously, the protection of life on board stricken vessels. Response agencies, however, also take measures to prevent pollution and are in a state of readiness to deal with any threat of pollution which may arise.
The Department of the Marine have taken over administrative and operational responsibility for threatened pollution at sea. A marine emergency action plan is being put in place in my Department.
The plan is being used on an experimental basis and has worked very well during emergencies such as the Yarrawonga, the Toledo and the Tribulus over the last year or so. I was particularly gratified to witness the ongoing response to the casualty involving the bulk carrier, the Tribulus, which averted a possible threat to our south-west coastline. I would like to take this opportunity to put on record my appreciation of the dedication and expertise of the response team who worked over long periods, often through the night, in appalling weather conditions to subdue and control the threat of pollution from this particular casualty.
With regard to the Kowloon Bridge casualty, the total cost arising from this incident was £1.75 million, of which £1.31 million was spent on the clean-up operation and £0.44 million on the removal of oil from the ship. As attempts to reach a settlement on the insurance claim were unsuccessful, civil proceedings were issued.
In view of this, it would not be prudent to make any further statement on the matter.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply about the dangers of pollution on the south and south-west coasts. Would he not agree that the practice of some bulk carrier owners of coming into Irish territorial waters with a crippled carrier and selling that carrier as a wreck, thereby causing major pollution to our coastline, is completely and utterly unacceptable to the Government? To elaborate a little, that happened. The transaction was for a nominal sum and we were left with a mess off the south coast. Have we taken any steps to prohibit that type of practice in the future?
(Limerick West): As I said, I am somewhat curtailed in my response to that question. I would like to be as helpful as I can to the Deputy, but as legal proceedings are in course I feel it would be wrong to me to make any comment at this stage.
Is the Minister confident, or reasonably confident, that the action will be successful?
(Limerick West): Again, it would be very wrong of me to make any comment on that.
