#MarineNotice - Marine Notice No 9 of 2013 advise of preparatory works for the installation of an offshore umbilical at the Corrib Gas Field development off Co Mayo.

Works are set to commence in early March along the route of the existing Corrib offshore gas pipeline with a route survey and pre-cut trenching by the Normand Ranger (Call sign LAMT).

A trench will be constructed from the subsea facilities and well in the Corrib Gas Field to approximately 16km offshore using a subsea plough pulled by the trenching support vessel.

This plough could trail as far as 1,700m behind the support vessel, and so all vessels in the vicinity are requested to keep a wide berth clear of the works. All vessel involved in the operations will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

Full details including relevant co-ordinates are included in the Marine Notice, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the DTTAS advises all seafarers off the West of Ireland that a hydrographic and geophysical survey operation will be carried out in Galway Bay from today Friday 22 February till Tuesday 26 February as part of the INFOMAR programme.

The RV Celtic Voyager (Call sign EIQN) is expected to carry out the survey operations. The vessel will be towing different senors from time to time with a cable of up to 150m in length for magnetometer and sidescan sonar.

The vessel will display appropriate lights and markers, and will be listening on VHF CH 16 throughout the project.

Full details, including co-ordinates, are included in Marine Notice No 08 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the DTTAS concerns the scheduled recommencing of a 3D seismic survey over the Corrib Gas Field by Shell E&P Ireland Ltd.

Some 40% of the survey was completed in 2012, and the remaining 60% is now set to be conducted with a planned starting date of 20 February 2013. Weather permitting, the survey should be completed in June 2013.

The seismic acquisition will comprise a four-boat operation. The M/V Ocean Pearl (Call sign C6ZW4) will lay the ocean-bottom cables on the sea floor and will collect all data records, while the M/V Malene Ostervold (Call sign LCIU3) will serve as the source vessel. In addition to these vessels, a third vessel, the M/V Vikland (Call sign C6UL5) will assist the M/V Ocean Pearl with cable laying and also act as a utility vessel. A fourth vessel, the M/T Deilginis (Call sign EISL), will act as a guard wessel.

Seismic acquisition will occur over a set of four active 12km-long solid ocean-bottom cables laid 400m apart on the sea bed at a depth of 350m. At the end of each cable is a 1km lead-in section which is attached to a standalone buoy at surface. These buoys contain a power pack as well as a recording system. Each buoy contains a radio-link with the cable-laying vessel for remote control of the buoy and for data quality control. Each buoy has a GPS receiver, so its location is well known to both seismic vessels. One by one these cables are 'rolled along' (ie picked up from the northern edge of the active spread, and redeployed at the southern edge). The M/V Malene Ostervold will be towing two seismic sources, and operating around the set of four active 12km-long cables.

The overall survey area is divided into three work areas or Contact Zones (A, B and C). A Contact Zone is defined by a 10km radius circle. Radio Navigation Warnings will be given out daily by the Irish Coast Guard, giving the co-ordinates of the centre point of the Contact Zone for that day. All vessels will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

Full details - including co-ordinates and maps of the survey area - are contained in Marine Notice No 07 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the DTTAS reminds all seafarers of their obligations to comply with the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).

The COLREGS are the basic “rules of the road” for all seafarers in charge of vessels on the high seas irrespective of type of vessel(s) concerned, and are “fully applicable to all vessels on the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels”.

New national regulations were made in 2012 and the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea are now implemented in Irish law by the Statutory Instrument, Merchant Shipping (Collision Regulations) (Ships and Water Craft on the Water) Order 2012 (SI No 507 of 2012). This Order revoked and replaced the previous COLREG Orders, namely SI Nos 29 of 1984, 36 of 1990, 287 of 1993 and 47 of 2005.

In addition, new national regulations were also made in 2012 for signals of distress. The Signals of Distress (Ships) Rules 2012 (SI No 170 of 2012) update the provisions for signals of distress and their use in line with Annex IV of COLREGS. These 2012 Rules revoke and replace the previous Rules, namely SI No 234 of 1977.

#MarineNotice - A recent Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) raises importance of maintenance as highlighted in the MCIB report into the scuttling of fishing vessel Jeanette Roberta in Glandore Harbour in late 2011.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the prawn boat was returning to port on 11 December 2011 when the skipper had difficulty switching the helm from auto-pilot to manual due to a known issue with "sticky solenoids". The boat subsequently veered off course without warning and was holed on rocks on Adam's Island.

The official report into the incident castigated the owner/skipper for continuing to sail the vessel with persistent navigation issues - and Marine Notice No 04 of 2013 reminds all fishing vessel operators to ensure that deficiencies with their vessels are rectified without delay.

It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that a vessel is maintained and operated at all times in accordance with the requirements of the agreed Code of Practice. Owners of all vessels also have a legal obligation to operate their vessels in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, the latest Marine Notice is directed at passenger vessel owners and operators - encouraging them to continue voluntary efforts to improve accessibility on their vessels.

A new questionnaire has been made available to inform the DTTAS about the extent of accessibility improvements introduced to maritime passenger transport services in the State.

Full details are included in Marine Notice No 05 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) reminds all mariners of the obligation to report marine casualties to the appropriate authorities in the event of an incident.

The notice refers to the official report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) into the grounding of the cargo ship Pantanal (more details) at Rossaveal on 31 March 2011, which can be read in full HERE.

The report recommends that mariners be reminded of the European Communities (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information System) Regulations 2010, as amended, which require the operator, agent or master of a ship in Irish waters to immediately report to the Irish Coast Guard any incident affecting the safety of the ship, or any incident liable to lead to pollution of the waters around Ireland or any other EU member state.

Full details are include within Marine Notice No 3 of 2013, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) draws attention to EU regulations pertaining to the liability of carriers of passengers by sea in the event of accidents.

The new EU Regulation 392/2009 came into force last week on 31 December 2012, incorporating provisions of the 2002 protocol to the Athens Convention relating to the carriage of passengers and their luggage by sea, which introduced compulsory insurance to cover passengers on ships such as passenger ferries, and covers the liability of the carrier in respect of passengers, their luggage and vehicles.

Full details of the new regulations are available in Marine Notice No 2 of 2013 via the department website HERE.

#InlandWaterways - Waterways Ireland wishes to advise masters and owners on the Shannon Navigation that work will commence on the lock gates at Tarmonbarry Lock next Monday 14 January.

These works will be on-going for a period of approximately eight weeks until Thursday 14 March 2013. An alternative passage maybe accessed via the Camlin river loop upstream of Tarmonbarry Lock and the Clondra Canal downstream of the lock.

The cross-border body for Ireland's inland waterways also advises that the Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Club's Head of River race will take place on Saturday 23 February from 9am till 5pm.

Masters of vessels are requested to proceed at slow speed and with minimum wash when passing this stretch of the navigation and to heed any advice or instructions issued by the regatta officials.

Meanwhile, Waterways Ireland has published a general marine notice reminding masters and owners of their responsibilities when navigating Ireland's rivers, lakes and canals.

The notice includes information on vessel registration, canal permits, public berthing, smart cards for service payments, speed restrictions, water safety and other important details for anyone boating in Ireland North and South.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notices from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advise seafarers and vessel owners of revised medical and energy efficiency certificates that come into force this coming Tuesday 1 January 2013.

Marine Notice No 65 of 2012 contains details of the revised Seafarer Medical Certificate - Form 3 (ENG11) which is being introduced by the DTTAS to ensure continued improvements to seafarer safety.

The redesigned form incorporates additional information on a seafarer's medical fitness, and will be issued by approved doctors from 1 January onwards. All current certificates held by seafarers will remain valid till their expiry dates.

Meanwhile, Marine Notice No 66 of 2012 has full information on the new International Energy Efficiency Certificate which will be required for all ships of 400 GT and over.

The new certificate is based on amendments to MARPOL Annex VI relating to regulation on energy efficiency on board ships.

From 1 January all new build ships will be provided with an IEE Certificate subject to fulfilling relevant criteria. It will only be valid in combination with the Energy Efficience Design Index (EEDI) indicated on the cert, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP).

Existing ships will be provided with an IEE Certificate at the first intermediate or renewal survey of the International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) Certificate.

#FERRY NEWS - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) highlights the rights of ferry and boat passengers within the European Union under new legislation set to apply from 18 December 2012.

The European Union (Rights of Passengers when Travelling by Sea and Inland Waterway) Regulations 2012 give full effect to Regulation (EU) No 1177/2010, which has the objective of ensuring "a high level of protection for passengers using waterborne transport anywhere in the European Union by establishing certain rights and a minimum quality of service across the EU.

"It provides ship passengers with enhanced rights and includes provisions on non-discrimination and assistance for persons with disabilities and reduced mobility, rights relating to the provision of information to all passengers before and during a journey, assistance to passengers in the event of delays and, in certain circumstances, compensation for delays and cancellation of journeys."

The main elements of the new regulations are summarised in Marine Notice No 63 of 2012, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

Meanwhile, the DTTAS is also reminding shipowners, masters and officers of their obligations as regards keeping a continuous navigational watch while at anchor.

Full details of obligations under the STCW Convention are included in Marine Notice No 62 of 2012, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.