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  • Originally posted by Flamingo View Post
    If (and it’s a big if) the port at Bremore goes ahead in the future, would a Naval presence there be a good idea, especially given the proximity of Gormanston Camp and Airstrip?
    If Bremore was to go ahead Gormanston Camp would likely cease to exist

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    • Originally posted by Flamingo View Post
      If (and it’s a big if) the port at Bremore goes ahead in the future, would a Naval presence there be a good idea, especially given the proximity of Gormanston Camp and Airstrip?
      I think the developer has already tried floating taking that land as part of the Port development, so it’s doubtful, not too mention that even if it went ahead the timescales are in the decade plus at best.

      Comment


      • Originally posted by DeV View Post

        Which would probably require NS to build quay wall facilities

        reason for the mention of Dun Laoghaire is the port isn’t really being used by major vessels

        having said that there seems of late to be a move from Dublin to Dun Laoghaire of cruise liner traffic




        Ref Bremore, I believe the push is more from the private developer to move the current Dublin Port there (so he can make a fortune on development of housing on the Dublin Port). At odds with Dublin Port’s plan to spend €1.6 billion on development of their facilities between 2010 and 2040
        The cruise liners visiting Dun Laoghaire appear to anchor outside of the harbour and use their tenders to ferry passengers ashore .
        Don't spit in my Bouillabaisse .

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        • This is not the thing you want to hear about when you decide the ferry is safer and more convenient than flying..

          Report reveals two passenger ferries had near miss at Rosslare Harbour this year
          Click image for larger version

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          Photograph taken from the bridge wing of the “Stena Europe” showing the “Connemara” passing around 100m from it on March 16. Picture via Marine Casualty Investigation Board
          FRI, 23 DEC, 2022 - 12:26
          SEAN MCCARTHAIGH

          Two large passenger ferries narrowly avoided a collision near the entrance to the port of Rosslare Harbour earlier this year, an investigation has revealed.

          A report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board has revealed details of what was described as a “close quarter incident” at the Co. Wexford port on March 16 when the two vessels passed within 100 metres of each other outside the harbour’s breakwater.

          The MCIB said both vessels had to take evasive action in order to avoid a collision. The incident involved the "Connemara" operated by Brittany Ferries which was arriving from the Spanish port of Bilbao and Stena Line UK’s "Stena Europe" which had just left Rosslare Harbour on a sailing to Fishguard.

          Both vessels are under the management of different companies within the Stena group. The MCIB report said Connemara had arrived at the port around 45 minutes ahead of its scheduled arrival time of 8.15am.

          However, it said the ship did not follow instructions issued by Rosslare Port Control to wait outside the harbour and proceeded instead towards the breakwater. The crew of Connemara claimed they had no option but to maintain speed due to a strong northerly breeze.

          Meanwhile, Stena Europe had been given permission to sail and had departed its berth unaware that Connemara was approaching the breakwater. At 7.27am, an officer on the bridge of Stena Europe was recorded saying: “He is right in the way” before the ferry turned its rudder hard to starboard.

          Ship communications

          The report said original statements made by the bridge team of Connemara did not accurately reflect VHF communications between the two vessels. They claimed communications from Rosslare Port Control and Stena Europe were “misheard” and “understood completely wrong” which had led to the situation being wrongly interpreted.

          They also claimed they initiated contact with the other vessel but recordings clearly showed Stena Europe made the first contact and informed Connemara of its intention to pass to the south of them.

          The MCIB said the failure of the Brittany Ferries vessel to carry out the advice of the port authorities to wait outside the harbour was a causative factor of the incident as was the failure of Rosslare Port Control to ensure its instructions were followed.

          The MCIB said recordings of radio communications showed the message given by the port controller to wait outside the harbour was “more of a suggestion rather than an instruction.” It said the lack of clarity about the instruction and the lack of adequate confirmation was a contributory factor.

          The report observed that Rosslare Port Control did not attempt to clarify the intentions of either vessel or highlight the possibility of a close-quarter situation even when it was clear such an incident had become inevitable. It found the port controller had at least six minutes to clarify with Connemara about its intentions but did not do so.

          The report said poor bridge team management and inappropriate VHF radio procedures were a contributory factor.

          Proper lookout

          It said Connemara should have been aware once its crew saw Stena Europe had started moving that a close-quarter situation could develop at the entrance to the harbour unless action was taken.

          The MCIB said the incident could have been avoided if both vessels had complied with the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea that a proper lookout must be kept at all times by all available means. It noted Stena Europe’s bridge team were not monitoring traffic but relying on port officials.

          Other factors

          The report said it was evident they were concerned about its sailing time and not being held up by the early arrival of the Brittany Ferries vessel which may have affected their decision-making process - a claim challenged by the ship’s master.

          The report also highlighted how the port controller had no maritime qualifications or maritime training.

          “The lack of training and maritime experience made it very difficult for the port controller to fully appreciate the potential consequences of allowing a close-quarter situation to develop,” it added.

          Recommendations

          In response to a series of recommendations made by the MCIB, Stena said the bridge team of Connemara had been sent on a bridge management course.

          Stena’s own investigation into the incident concluded that the vessel had not followed the advice from the port controller due to a lack of communications between the bridge team. Stena said it also informed crews that the safety of the vessel takes priority over rigidly adhering to its schedule.

          The MCIB said the Minister for Transport should also consider introducing legislation to ensure personnel working in safety critical roles in harbour control had suitable training and qualifications.
          Report reveals two passenger ferries had near miss at Rosslare Harbour this year (irishexaminer.com)
          For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

          Comment


          • Well we most likely won't be seeing Connemara in European waters anymore, her charter with Brittany Ferries has finished and today she departed for New Zealand to join Cook Strait Ferries, sailing via the Panama Canal.
            Don't spit in my Bouillabaisse .

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            • They can have her. I heard no good reports back from those who used here, apart from it was better than walking, or driving thru the UK to get to france.
              For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

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              • Submarines were proposed to be built in Cork in early 90s

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                • Submarines were proposed to be built in Cork in early 90s

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                  • Originally posted by DeV View Post
                    Submarines were proposed to be built in Cork in early 90s

                    https://twitter.com/conorhogarty/sta...LForeZyInAQSjg
                    Saw that and was amazed as building subs is something only a handful of yards can do. Would have been great to see Zwaardvis class submarines getting built in Cork. But the PRC did also stop the Dutch from building subs for Taiwan after they had built the first two Zwaardvis class. Then again an Irish company did and still does support the Taiwan Army!

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                    • It would have been amazing to see but I have doubts it would have actually got off the ground even if the Government was willing to piss off the PRC. I mean between the capital investment to bring the yard up to the standards needed for such builds, along with having to train up an entire new workforce for the job I can't see how the it would have been viable.

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                      • Damen were sniffing around the former Verolme site for years, hoping to be handed it on a platter to build CPVs for the international market.. This was one of many proposals.
                        For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

                        Comment


                        • Originally posted by na grohmiti View Post
                          Damen were sniffing around the former Verolme site for years, hoping to be handed it on a platter to build CPVs for the international market.. This was one of many proposals.
                          Even assuming the full order for the other 4 subs went ahead, I would still think the start up costs would have been brutal and with the defence drawdowns post Cold War hard to see the yard remaining viable afterwards?

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                          • I have no doubt the only purpose was to buy a cheap yard, farm out the smaller work, then strip the assets back to their home operation in NL. It's a business after all.
                            For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

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                            • More woes for the Dun Laoghaire former ferry terminal

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                              • Originally posted by DeV View Post
                                More woes for the Dun Laoghaire former ferry terminal

                                https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2...erry-terminal/

                                developer has pulled out

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