Vol. 577 No. 4
34 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of vessels within the polyvalent segment of the fleet which will be affected by his regulation of 17 November 2003 to ring-fence the total capacity of boats with pelagic wet storage capacity tanks, as determined by the licensing authority, at current approved levels of 1,247 GT and 2,881 kW, whereby such vessels may have fully functioning RSW tanks. [31384/03]
One of the provisions in the ministerial policy directive issued to the licensing authority involves the ring-fencing of the total capacity of vessels with pelagic wet storage capacity tanks, within the polyvalent fleet segment. The total permitted such capacity has been set at 1,247 gross tonnes and 2,881 kW. This policy provision takes account of the capacities of four polyvalent vessels already licensed with approved wet storage capacity. A related policy provision also allows one further polyvalent vessel already licensed with unapproved wet storage capacity to continue to operate with such capacity until its current licence expires. The capacity of this vessel is not included in the total ring-fenced capacity as this is only a provisional arrangement. The ring-fencing of permitted pelagic wet storage capacity in the polyvalent segment essentially affects all vessels licensed, or proposed to be licensed, in that segment.
The policy provides that any future proposals for the licensing of new, second hand or modified vessels with pelagic wet storage capacity within the polyvalent segment will only be considered by the licensing authority where this would lead to no increase in the overall capacity ring-fenced. This means that while replacement vessels with pelagic wet storage capacity could be licensed, the total capacity of this sub-segment may not be exceeded.
The fundamental principle underpinning this policy provision is that vessels with wet storage capacity – tanks – for pelagic species were not traditionally intended to be licensed in the polyvalent segment which comprised up to the late 1990s only dry hold vessels. Following the introduction of five tank vessels into the polyvalent segment in recent years, a moratorium was put in place in February 2001 on the licensing of non-dry hold vessels with bulk storage tanks in the polyvalent segment.
Following consideration of all the issues involved and intensive consultation with industry, the Minister introduced a new policy in this area, as I have set out. There is a dedicated fleet segment for pelagic tank boats within the Irish fleet. Any vessels with pelagic wet storage capacity may be licensed in this tank boat segment as long as relevant licensing policy requirements such as the provision of appropriate replacement capacity, are complied with.
