Vol. 410 No. 1
10 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine the reason the synchrolift for fishing boats at Dinish Island, Castletownbere, County Cork, has been left out of action for 12 months; and if he will take urgent steps to ensure that it is now put back into operation.
(Limerick West): The four synchrolifts installed at the fishery harbour centres were designed by Pearlson Engineering, Florida, USA, and the patent is also owned by this firm.
A major mechanical and electrical overhaul of the synchrolift in Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre commenced in October 1990, and following discovery of major defects, the lift has been out of service since that date. Part of the service which the synchrolift required included replacement of parts, some of which had to be manufactured by the American company which designed the installation.
The up-to-date position is that the mechanical overhaul was successfully completed in March. During the course of inspection and testing of the electrical installation in May 1991, engineers from Pearlson discovered a defect in a vital part, and a replacement had to be ordered from the United States. It is now expected that the electrical overhaul will be completed and tested by the end of July and the synchrolift should be fully operational shortly after that. Every effort will be made to meet or improve on these timescales.
Any defects in the installation, even minor ones, could result in serious injury to persons and or extensive damage to boats. While I accept that the lengthy out of service period of the synchrolift is disappointing, I wish to emphasise that the issue of safety of the installation is of paramount importance.
Castletownbere is one of our five major fishing harbours. Is it not an indication of the state of the fishing industry in this major port that 35 boats are waiting to go on the lift for cleaning, painting and general repairs? Is the Minister aware that boats urgently in need of refurbishment and repairs are being sent to Baltimore and as far north as Killybegs? This imposes extra costs on fishermen. I ask the Minister to take into consideration this loss to engineering and painting firms in the locality and the likely effect this has on jobs.
(Limerick West): I agree with the Deputy and, as I said in my reply, every effort is being made to resolve the matter as quickly as possible so that the lift will be operational in July.
