THIS ISLAND NATION By Tom MacSweeney, Marine Correspondent Dateline – September 13, 2014. ……………………………….. A weekly review of maritime news, comment and opinion. ………………..…………………..……………………………… THE WEEKEND MARITIME REVIEW and digest of news, comment and opinion from the maritime world. …………………………… THIS ISLAND NATION ON MONDAYS is now on Afloat.ie Got to: afloat.ie/blog/island-nation to open the Monday Marine TIN ………………………………………………………………………………… Regular daily marine news updates on TWITTER: @TomMacSweeney ………………………………………………………………………………… WHERE DO THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES GO NOW ? I chaired the opening session of the Waterford Conference on Empowering Coastal Communities where there was determination, enthusiasm and hope for the future. That was over three months ago. I heard there, the anger of communities to whom undertakings given by the State had not been delivered and of resultant distrust and feelings of abandonment and rejection. It seemed to me that getting the coastal communities to work together, to share information and resources, to identify their own strengths and weaknesses, to unite in pursuing a common goal – the future of their communities – was essential. But nothing has happened since. Where do the coastal communities go now, facing a Government which continues to ignore the Oireachtas Committee Report on the coastal and island communities since last January? The communities on the outer rim of this island nation deserve as much consideration as urban communities. In a nation of equality they would be entitled to it. They need a united voice and strong leadership. Read more about this this topic in The Marine Times September edition. ………………………………………………………………………………… THIS ISLAND NATION MONTHLY A monthly four-page THIS ISLAND NATION supplement in THE MARINE TIMES has a wide variety of maritime coverage. Get a copy in your newsagents now. ………………………………………………………………………………… COULD AN UNMANNED, BATTERY-POWERED VESSEL REVOLUTIONISE SHORT SEA SHIPPING? A ship that is claimed to be “greener, smarter and safer than conventionally fuelled and operated vessels” is being developed by researchers at the classification society DNV GL. It has been named the “ReVolt” while development goes on and is described as “a new shipping concept that offers a possible solution to the growing need for transport capacity.” “The increasing stress placed on land-based logistic networks is driving the search for alternatives,” says DNV GL “and one of the most promising is short sea shipping, for which our researchers have developed this ship which, instead of using diesel fuel, “ReVolt” is powered by a 3000 kWh battery. This reduces operating costs by minimising the number of high maintenance parts. ‘ReVolt’ does not require a crew and therefore goes a long way in tackling one of the shipping industries’ weakest links: the safety record. Studies have shown that the majority accidents are caused by human error. Unmanned vessels take this factor out of the equation and make the operation of these ships more cost-efficient. The vessel has an average speed of 6 knots and faces less water resistance than other ships, which usually travel at about 8.7 knots. With no crew, there is no need for crew facilities such as the superstructure on board this vessel. “The concept-ship is currently still being tested,” says Hans Anton Tvete, Senior Researcher at DNV GL “The unmanned, battery powered vessel ReVolt could revolutionise short sea shipping.” DNV GL is one of the world’s leading ship and offshore classification societies and a technical advisor to the global oil and gas industry and one of the top three certification bodies in the world. A classification society is a non-governmental organisation that establishes and maintains technical standards for the construction and operation of ships and offshore structures. The purpose of a Classification Society is to provide classification and statutory services and assistance to the maritime industry and regulatory bodies as regards maritime safety and pollution prevention, based on the accumulation of maritime knowledge and technology. ………………………………………………………………………………… FISH WEIGHING PROBLEMS Fishing industry organisations have been engaged in negotiations with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority over the issue of pelagic catch weighing. The SFPA removed weighing permits from factories, apparently claiming that this action was taken because of manipulation of weighing operations. This has been strongly disputed from the industry side which says there has been little evidence and no prosecutions. Digested from The Marine Times ………………………………………………………………………………… CLARE WANTS TO BUY HOLY ISLAND Clare County Council is at an advanced stage of negotiations to secure the purchase of Holy Island on Lough Derg, the largest lake on the River Shannon. It is regarded as one of the most important historical and ecclesiastical sites in Ireland, has important links to Brian Ború and is known throughout East Clare as the “Jewel of the Lough. The island comprises some 50 acres of which more than 4 acres are in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW). Still used as a burial ground, the ruins and buildings on Holy Island date back as far as the 7th century when the monastic site was established by St. Caimin. Buildings on the island include a 24-metre high Round Tower, an Oratory and a number of churches. The Island lies close to the village of Mountshannon and is on the UNESCO World Heritage site tentative list as an Early Medieval Monastic site along with Clonmacnoise, Durrow, Glendalough, Kells and Monasterboice. ………………………………………………………………………….. SHIPPING AND PORT ACTIVITY INCREASES Irish shipping and port activity rose by 2% in the second quarter of 2014 when compared to the corresponding period of 2013, according to the quarterly review by the Irish Maritime Development Office. Four of the five principal freight segments grew in the second quarter of this year according to the new Director of the IMDO, Liam Lacey. Roll-on/roll-off freight grew by 7% to 244,629 units. This is the sixth consecutive quarterly increase in freight trailers. Container traffic, lift-on/lift-off grew by 5% to 154,725 units. Container imports have now risen for three consecutive quarters. ………………………………………………………………………………… THE SEA GARDENER Marie Power is known as The Sea Gardener and is dedicated to encouraging the eating of seaweed. “It is not just a weed. The reality is that we have been eating it in Ireland for generations. It is a sea vegetable, a healthy food that has up to ten times more calcium than milk and eight times as much iron as beef,” she says. “There are edible and inedible species and being able to identify them is essential. There are a dozen or so tasty and worth eating, which can be found all around the coast. Japanese people live long lives and their longevity has been attributed to the abundance of seaweed in their diet!” Digested from The Marine Times THIS ISLAND NATION supplement ………………………………………………………………………………… SALMON ON THE BLACKWATER A salmon caught on the Munster Blackwater has been awarded the ‘CATCH OF THE WEEK’ by Inland Fisheries Ireland, the State body for inland fisheries. It was a 10 lbs. fish, pictured here released back into the lower river by Rob Green. Blackwater Lodge and Salmon Fishery reports that salmon are being caught in spite of very challenging conditions on the Blackwater: “We have had 12 fish to 13lb. in the last 3 days for just 35 rod days, which is remarkable considering the challenging low water conditions.” ………………………………………. THE ‘JACKASS FRIGATE’ ‘HMS Conway’ was provided by the British Admiralty as a training ship for the Merchant Navy after Lloyds and other insurance companies became worried over the frequent loss of ships and cargoes because of the lack of knowledge of ships’ officers. The story of the ship and why it was termed the ‘jackass frigate’ is reported in the October edition of ‘Shipping Today and Yesterday’. Digested from ‘Shipping Today and Yesterday.’ .......................................................................................... SHELLFISH ANNUAL MEETING The annual conference and meeting of the Irish Shellfish Association will be held on Thursday, October 16 at the Red Cow, Moran’s Hotel, Dublin. ………………………………………………………………………… MARITIME OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS The Explorers Education Programme is now open for applications from primary schools who wish to take part in marine related activities and workshops for the 2014/2015 school year in Counties Galway, Clare, Mayo, and Sligo. A new module system allows for more students and teachers to get involved in marine projects, seashores safaris, having aquariums in the classroom, or taking part in marine workshops involving maths, engineering and science. Teachers can send applications to their local educations centres in Counties Galway, Clare, Mayo and Sligo highlighting how the Explorers Education programme will be beneficial to their class, school and community. …………………………………. IRISH MARITIME FORUM The first Irish Maritime Forum will be held in Cork City Hall on Friday, September 26, on the theme: ‘Developing the Dynamic Future for Ireland’s Maritime Sector.’ It will focus on exploring the future of the maritime sector within Ireland and will look at challenges and opportunities within the industry. It is being organised by the Port of Cork in conjunction with the Irish Ports Association. ………………………………………………………………………………… CORK HARBOUR OPEN DAY Cork Harbour Open Day will take place on Saturday, September 20. Cork Port Company says that the day is “a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy all that Cork Harbour has to offer.” There will be a Coastguard Air Sea Rescue Demonstration; family fun on Spike Island; an Irish Naval vessel will be open to the public; free trips are to be offered on the Port of Cork’s pilot boat. Other activities will include a raft race organised by Scouting Ireland. • More information about the weekend on corkharbour.ie ………………………………………………………………………………… OTHER MARITIME READING THIS ISLAND NATION weekly on AFLOAT afloat.ie/blogs/island-nation ‘SEA ECHOES’ on Wednesdays in the Cork Evening Echo SAILING NEWS each Thursday in the Evening Echo MARITIME FORUM and THIS ISLAND NATION supplement each month in THE MARINE TIMES newspaper ………………………………………………………………………………… Every Monday a THIS ISLAND NATION column appears on Afloat.ie – varying and widespread coverage, comment, opinion and news about the marine sphere. ………………………………………………………………………………… THIS ISLAND NATION ON RADIO Use TUNE IN RADIO to hear THIS ISLAND NATION. Download the TUNE IN RADIO app from the Google Play Store which gives access to all radio stations on smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops. • TUNE IN RADIO, great for radio listening anywhere. ……………………………………………………………..………. Fair sailing until next week…..
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 08:33:43 +0000
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