Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

A Harbour Seal photographed at Dun Laoghaire Marina on Dublin Bay, Ireland. Also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinnipeds, they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Baltic and North seas. Photo: AfloatA photograph of a Harbour Seal taken at Dun Laoghaire Marina on Dublin Bay, Ireland. Also known as the common seal, this species can be found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They are the most widely distributed species of pinnipeds and can be found in the coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as the Baltic and North Seas. Photo: Afloat

Displaying items by tag: Dublin Bay

DUBLIN PORT Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 24 JULY 2010  BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Extremity (Paul D'Alton), 3. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy)  BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Magic (D.O'Sullivan/D.Espey), 3. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy)                                          

 

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 3. WOW (George Sisk)                                                        

 

CRUISERS 0 - 1. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 2. WOW (George Sisk), 3. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)                                                        

 

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Jetstream (Peter Redden), 2. Adrenalin (Joe McDonald), 3. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al)                                             

 

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Xtravagance (Colin Byrne), 2. Jetstream (Peter Redden), 3. Adrenalin (Joe McDonald)                                                   

 

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Bendemeer (Gerald Kinsella), 2. Jester (Declan Curtin), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)                                                 

 

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Bendemeer (Gerald Kinsella), 3. Peridot (Jim McCann et al)                                         

 

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Saki (Paget McCormack et al), 3. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill)                                      

 

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Asterix (J.Counihan/F.Meredith), 3. Jammie Dodger (J.H & D.O'Neill)                                   

 

CRUISERS 4 - 1. Rascal (K.Burke/S.Milner), 2. Maranda (Myles Kelly), 3. Ghrazel (Charles Pearson)                                                     

 

FIREBALL - 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna), 3. Thrills and Spills (Brenda McGuire)                          

 

FIREBALL - 1. Licence to Thrill (Louis Smyth), 2. Goodness Gracious (Louise McKenna), 3. Thrills and Spills (Brenda McGuire)                          

 

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Hy5ive (D & S Gorman), 2. Rollercoaster (Tom Murphy), 3. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton)                                                   

 

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Kooigjug (K Dumpleton), 2. Rollercoaster (Tom Murphy), 3. Deranged (C.Doorly)                                                     

 

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Glenluce (D & R O'Connor), 3. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey)                                                    

 

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 2- 1. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton), 2. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan), 3. Doody (J.Fitzgerald/J.Byrne)                                        

 

IDRA 14 FOOT Race 1- 1. Squalls (Stephen Harrison), 2. Sapphire (Lorcan O'Sullivan), 3. Dunmoanin (Frank Hamilton)                                          

 

MERMAID Race 1- 1. Tiller Girl (J.O'Rourke), 2. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan), 3. Oonagh (J&M Griffith)                                                       

 

MERMAID Race 2- 1. Tiller Girl (J.O'Rourke), 2. Oonagh (J&M Griffith), 3. Aideen (B.Martin/D.Brennan)                                                       

 

PY CLASS Race 2- 1. Brendan McConville (Wayfarer), 2. Stuart McBride (Laser Vago)                                                                           

 

PY CLASS Race 1- 1. Brendan McConville (Wayfarer), 2. Stuart McBride (Laser Vago)                                                                           

 

SHIPMAN - 1. Curraglas (John Masterson), 2. Whiterock (Henry Robinson), 3. Macro One (Joseph Murray)                                                  

 

SIGMA 33 - 1. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 2. Rupert (R.Lovegrove/P.Varian), 3. Springer (I.Bowring)                                            

 

SQUIB Race 2- 1. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans), 2. Ladybird (M.Muldoon/B.Stevens), 3. Lola (Frank Whelan)                                                       

 

SQUIB Race 1- 1. Nimble (Brian O'Hare), 2. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago), 3. Ladybird (M.Muldoon/B.Stevens)                                                   

 

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Finnegans Wake (T.Rowlands et al), 2. Xerxes (Dan O'Neill), 3. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer)                                        

 

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Xerxes (Dan O'Neill), 2. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer), 3. Calypso (Howard Knott)                                                   

 


Published in DBSC

It's not often we get a mega yacht (a private boat above 70m or 230 feet) in Dublin bay. The Skat  is currently lying on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay. Click HERE and have a look at the images at the bottom of the page.

According to Wikipedia The Skat is a luxury yacht built by Lürssen of Bremen, Germany as project 9906, a number prominently displayed on the hull in a font matching that of military vessels. The project started in November 1999 and the yacht launched in 2001. The owner is Charles Simonyi, a former Software Engineer from Microsoft and the fifth space tourist. The yacht is the 64th-largest in the world with a length of 71 metres. 

Published in Cruising
Lifeboat crew to welcome visitors at annual Open Day
Visitors to RNLI at Dun Laoghaire will be able to view the new inshore
lifeboat (ILB) that recently arrived when the station holds its annual open
day on Saturday 31st July 2010 (11am to 5pm).  For the first time, the
recently-formed Sea Safety team will also be on hand to offer advice to
visitors on how best to prepare for trips afloat and boating activities.
Equipment demonstrations and model boat displays will also be part of the
attractions including the station’s All-Weather lifeboat (ALB).
Crew-members, who operate on a fully-voluntary basis will be demonstrating
various items of rescue equipment and the ALB " Anna Livia" will be
alongside offering close-up views of this €2 million rescue craft.
There are two lifeboats at Dun Laoghaire, a Trent class ALB and a D-Class
ILB (Inshore lifeboat) of the new IB1-type that was recently delivered to
the 207-year old station and is based in the nearby historic boathouse at
the East Pier.  This lifeboat, named ‘Realt Na Mara’ , was funded by the
genorisity of a family in Dublin.
The station’s shop selling souvenirs and other lifeboat-related items will
also be open, helping to raise funds for the voluntary service.  The Sea
Safety team, part of the RNLI’s stated aim of improving safety at sea
through education and information can also take bookings for the free ‘Sea
Check’ service that assists boat-owners.
The Dun Laoghaire RNLI station is one of 43 based in the Ireland division
that operate 55 lifeboats that launched on 976 occasions and rescued 1,008
people in 2009.  Dun Laoghaire is regularly amongst the busiest and last
year launched on 68 occasions and rescued 92 people.
For more information, please visit http://www.dunlaoghaire-lifeboat.ie

Visitors to RNLI at Dun Laoghaire will be able to view the new inshore lifeboat (ILB) that recently arrived when the station holds its annual open day on Saturday 31st July 2010 (11am to 5pm).  For the first time, the recently-formed Sea Safety team will also be on hand to offer advice to visitors on how best to prepare for trips afloat and boating activities.

Equipment demonstrations and model boat displays will also be part of the attractions including the station’s All-Weather lifeboat (ALB). Crew-members, who operate on a fully-voluntary basis will be demonstrating various items of rescue equipment and the ALB " Anna Livia" will be along side offering close-up views of this €2 million rescue craft.

There are two lifeboats at Dun Laoghaire, a Trent class ALB and a D-ClassILB (Inshore lifeboat) of the new IB1-type that was recently delivered to the 207-year old station and is based in the nearby historic boathouse at the East Pier.  This lifeboat, named ‘Realt Na Mara’ , was funded by thegenorisity of a family in Dublin.

The station’s shop selling souvenirs and other lifeboat-related items willalso be open, helping to raise funds for the voluntary service. The SeaSafety team, part of the RNLI’s stated aim of improving safety at seathrough education and information can also take bookings for the free ‘SeaCheck’ service that assists boat-owners.

The Dun Laoghaire RNLI station is one of 43 based in the Ireland divisionthat operate 55 lifeboats that launched on 976 occasions and rescued 1,008people in 2009.  Dun Laoghaire is regularly amongst the busiest and lastyear launched on 68 occasions and rescued 92 people.

For more information, please visit www.dunlaoghaire-lifeboat.ie

Related Safety posts

RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland


Safety News


Rescue News from RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland


Coast Guard News from Ireland


Water Safety News from Ireland

Marine Casualty Investigation Board News

Marine Warnings

Published in RNLI Lifeboats
Dublin Bay Sailing Club Results for 22 JULY 2010

BENETEAU 31.7 Echo- 1. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy), 2. Violet Flame (B.Murphy/L.Osbourne), 3. Extremity (Paul D'Alton)

BENETEAU 31.7 - 1. Prospect (Chris Johnston), 2. Levante (B.Leyden/M.Leahy), 3. Levana (Jean Mitton)

CRUISERS 0 Echo - 1. Lively Lady (Derek Martin), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 3. WOW (George Sisk)

CRUISERS 0 - 1. WOW (George Sisk), 2. Tsunami (Vincent Farrell), 3. Lively Lady (Derek Martin)

CRUISERS 1 Echo - 1. Team Windmill (Andrew Sarratt), 2. Axiom (M.O'Neill), 3. Indecision (Declan Hayes et al)

CRUISERS 1 - 1. Team Windmill (Andrew Sarratt), 2. Something Else (J.Hall et al), 3. Contango (Barry Cunningham)

CRUISERS 2 - 1. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 2. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

CRUISERS 2 Echo - 1. Red Rhum (J Nicholson), 2. Jawesome 11 (V.Kennedy/M.Dyke), 3. Jester (Declan Curtin)

CRUISERS 3 Echo - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 3. Cries of Passion (Bryan Maguire)

CRUISERS 3 - 1. Supernova (K.Lawless et al), 2. Hard on Port (Flor O'Driscoll), 3. Cries of Passion (Bryan Maguire)

CRUISERS 4 - 1. Ghrazel (Charles Pearson), 2. Aslana (J.Martin/B.Mulkeen), 3. Maranda (Myles Kelly)

FLYING FIFTEEN - 1. Deranged (C.Doorly), 2. Flyer (Niall Coleman), 3. Fifty Somethings (David Mulvin)

GLEN - 1. Glendun (B.Denham et al), 2. Pterodactyl (R & D McCaffrey), 3. Glenmarissa (F.Elmes/W.Higgins)

RUFFIAN 23 - 1. Shannagh (S.Gill/P.MacDiarmada), 2. Nuits St Georges (Alan Kirwan), 3. Diane ll (Bruce Carswell)

SB3s - 1. Mosquito (Paul O'Callaghan et al), 2. Alert Packaging (Justin Burke), 3. Sin Bin (Barry O'Neill)

SHIPMAN - 1. Kelema (N.Blake/Z.Grace), 2. Malindi (B.Smith/A.Gray), 3. Just Good Friends (Michael Carroll)

SIGMA 33 - 1. Rupert (R.Lovegrove/P.Varian), 2. White Mischief (Timothy Goodbody), 3. Leeuwin (Henry Leonard et al)

SQUIB - 1. Kookaburra (P & M Dee), 2. Why Not (Derek & Jean Jago), 3. Anemos (Pete & Ann Evans)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS Echo - 1. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer), 2. Xerxes (Dan O'Neill), 3. Nauti-Gal (J & J Crawford)

WHITE SAIL CRUISERS - 1. Arwen (Philip O'Dwyer), 2. Xerxes (Dan O'Neill), 3. Nauti-Gal (J & J Crawford)

Published in DBSC

As many as 20 sailing boats could line out for the ISORA overnight race to the India North buoy tomorrow night. The race starts at 7.30pm, leaving the Muglins to starboard as the fleet heads south to the cardinal mark India North. The forecast is for light offshore breezes, waning further as the race progresses.

The list of starters is attached below, with those marked DNF not taking part. A Notice of Race is also attached.

The race is a 75-miler, and most returning boats should be back in Dun Laoghaire by morning.

 

 

 

Published in ISORA
Tagged under

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group believes that the whale spotted off Howth and Dublin Bay last week may be the same marine animal spotted at the foot of cliffs on Rathlin Island. The whale is thought to be moving down the Irish Sea, a rare behaviour for a humpback. Pictures of the sighting have allowed the IWDG identify it as a humpback, but they are waiting for higher-resolution images to match it with its counterpart in Howth.

The whale was spotted off Rathlin on July 11, three days before it surfaced near Dublin. The IWDG has said: "This is an extremely important sighting as it is only the second validated sighting of this species in N. Irish waters.

"In fact, as the previous sighting was closer to Colonsay, Islay, Scotland, we could easily argue that this is in fact the 1st record of a humpback whale in N. Irish waters."

Whales can cover more than 50 miles a day and migrate more than 5,000 miles in a year.

More info on the current crop of sightings can be found on the IWDG website, HERE.

Anyone spotting a whale is required by law to give them at least 100 metres room and travel parallel to their track, unless you want to end up like an unlucky pair of South African sailors, dismasted by a breaching Right Whale off Cape Town this week.

Published in Marine Wildlife

More than 20 ladies from around Ireland took to the water in Dun Laoghaire last weekend for a women's match racing training weekend, which may result in a ladies' Match Racing nationals taking place later in 2010.

A recent rise in interest in match racing combined with the Irish Sailing Association’s drive towards promoting women on the water resulted in full programme organised by experienced match racer Mary O’Loughlin and held in the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire. Women’s match racing is a recent introduction to the Summer Olympics in 2012 and has received a strong international following in preparation for the games.

Some participants had already had a taste of match racing in the ISA’s Sail Fleet; others were fresh to the scene. Whilst some sailors were weary after a hectic week down in Cork, all were keen to try out the J80’s and get on the water.

After a comprehensive briefing on boat set up, starting procedures, tactics and rules, the ladies took to the water to put their new found knowledge into practice. Weather conditions were varied, sunshine and gentle breezes right around to a gusty force 4 on Sunday afternoon.

Under the guidance of some of Ireland’s top match racers and umpires, they completed two action packed on the water sessions and rounded it off with a closing briefing on the weekend’s racing.

The weekend was thoroughly enjoyed by all of those who took part. Many of the ladies who attended the weekend are keen to continue on in the match racing scene and plans are underway to hold a Women’s Match Racing Nationals later in the year
Published in Match Racing

The International Match Racing Challenge, taking place this weekend in Dublin Bay, has been profiling their twelve teams, six from Ireland and six from around the world, on their site over the last few days. The event is shaping up to be the match racing spectacle of the year, with mixed breeze and flat water anticipated in Dun Laoghaire on Saturday as a low pressure moves in.

The event will take place close to shore in Scotsmans Bay, with racing visible from land, where the Festival of World Cultures will be taking place.

Irish eyes wil be watching top-ranked helm John Sheehy and Andrew Fowler, who has stolen a march on Sheehy in this year's circuit. Marty O'Leary's team, recently returned from the Student Match Racing Worlds, will also be keen to maintain their good form, having mixed it with several professional teams in Crete.

The line-up of skippers is featured below, with individual team profiles are included on the event website, HERE.

 

Ireland

John Sheehy World Ranking 70

Andrew Fowler World Ranking 163

Maurice O'Connell World Ranking 192

Marty O'Leary World Ranking 815

Graham Elmes World Ranking 1163

Sam Hunt World Ranking Unranked

 

The World

Keith Swinton  (AUS) World Ranking 17

Pete Nicholas  (AUS) World Ranking 90

Romain Baggio  (FRA) World Ranking 107

Ben Duncan  (NZL) World Ranking 194

Lars Hueckstaedt (GER) World Ranking 217

Andrew Cornah  (GBR) World Ranking Unranked

Published in Match Racing

HOWTH YACHT CLUB.  TUE + SAT SERIES 3 (RACE) 20/07/2010   17 Footer  SCRATCH:  1, Rita Lynch/Curley;  2=, Aura I Malcolm;  2=, Leila R Cooper;  17 Footer  HCAP:  1, Echo B & H Lynch;  2, Rosemary Curley/Jones; 3=, Aura I Malcolm TUESDAY SERIES 3 (RACE) 20/07/2010   Puppeteer  SCRATCH:  1, Blue Velvet C & K Kavanagh;  2, Yellow Peril N Murphy;  3, Enigma D Butler;  Puppeteer  HPH:  1, Apollo M & D Patton;  2, Nefertari Morgan/Murray;  3, Mr. Punch NiBhraonain/Wilson;  Squib  SCRATCH:  1, Chatterbox J Kay;  2, Arctic Fox G Barry;  3, Kerfuffle J & H Craig;  Squib  HPH:  1, Arctic Fox G Barry;  2, Chatterbox J Kay;  3, Shadowfax P Merry;  Etchells SCRATCH:  1, Kootamundra Wattle O'Grady/Reilly;  2, Fetching Quinn/O'Flaherty; 3, Jabberwocky S Knowles;  SB3  SCRATCH:  1, Investwise D Quinn;  2, Einstein's Nightmare J Wenski;  3, Sin a Bhuifl Guinness/Costigan


Published in Howth YC

The organisers of this weekend's inaugural International Match Race Challenge are attempting to make the regatta a multimedia spectacle, with live reports on the action in Dun Laoghaire's Scotsman's Bay relayed to a constantly updated website. The new site, live at matchracing.ie/challenge, will be refreshed with updates, pictures, and audio from the racecourse with a reporter watching the action and posting bulletins in real time.

The website will be displayed in the Royal St George Yacht club, and will auto-refresh every few minutes to ensure that spectators can track the action as it happens. Any club in Ireland whose members are involved can do the same and track the event live over the internet. Live commentary will also be broadcast on Channel 77 for the duration of the regatta.

The International Match Racing Challenge pits six international teams against the top six Irish teams. Spectator packages are still available for the event, in which a paying spectator can sit in one of the boats as it races, watching the action from the cockpit. Details are HERE.

 

Published in Match Racing
Tagged under
Page 98 of 103

For all you need on the Marine Environment - covering the latest news and updates on marine science and wildlife, weather and climate, power from the sea and Ireland's coastal regions and communities - the place to be is Afloat.ie.

Coastal Notes

The Coastal Notes category covers a broad range of stories, events and developments that have an impact on Ireland's coastal regions and communities, whose lives and livelihoods are directly linked with the sea and Ireland's coastal waters.

Topics covered in Coastal Notes can be as varied as the rare finding of sea-life creatures, an historic shipwreck with secrets to tell, or even a trawler's net caught hauling much more than just fish.

Other angles focusing the attention of Coastal Notes are Ireland's maritime museums, which are of national importance to maintaining access and knowledge of our nautical heritage, and those who harvest the sea using small boats based in harbours where infrastructure and safety pose an issue, plying their trade along the rugged wild western seaboard.

Coastal Notes tells the stories that are arguably as varied as the environment they come from, and which shape people's interaction with the natural world and our relationship with the sea.

Marine Wildlife

One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with Marine Wildlife. It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. And as boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify, even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat. Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse, it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to our location in the North Atlantic, there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe. From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals, the Marine Wildlife category documents the most interesting accounts around our shores. And we're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and video clips, too!

Also valuable is the unique perspective of all those who go afloat, from coastal sailing to sea angling to inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing, as what they encounter can be of great importance to organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). Thanks to their work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. But as impressive as the list is, the experts believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves, keep a sharp look out!

Weather

As an island in the North Atlantic, Ireland's fate is decided by Weather more so than many other European countries. When storm-force winds race across the Irish Sea, ferry and shipping services are cut off, disrupting our economy. When swollen waves crash on our shores, communities are flooded and fishermen brace for impact - both to their vessels and to their livelihoods.

Keeping abreast of the weather, therefore, is as important to leisure cruisers and fishing crews alike - for whom a small craft warning can mean the difference between life and death - as it is to the communities lining the coast, where timely weather alerts can help protect homes and lives.

Weather affects us all, and Afloat.ie will keep you informed on the hows and the whys.

Marine Science

Perhaps it's the work of the Irish research vessels RV Celtic Explorer and RV Celtic Voyager out in the Atlantic Ocean that best highlights the essential nature of Marine Science for the future growth of Ireland's emerging 'blue economy'.

From marine research to development and sustainable management, Ireland is developing a strong and well-deserved reputation as an emerging centre of excellence. Whether it's Wavebob ocean energy technology to aquaculture to weather buoys and oil exploration, the Marine Science category documents the work of Irish marine scientists and researchers and how they have secured prominent roles in many European and international marine science bodies.

Power From The Sea

The message from the experts is clear: offshore wind and wave energy is the future. And as Ireland looks towards the potential of the renewable energy sector, generating Power From The Sea will become a greater priority in the State's 'blue growth' strategy.

Developments and activities in existing and planned projects in the pipeline from the wind and wave renewables sector, and those of the energy exploration industry, point to the future of energy requirements for the whole world, not just in Ireland. And that's not to mention the supplementary industries that sea power projects can support in coastal communities.

Irish ports are already in a good position to capitalise on investments in offshore renewable energy services. And Power From The Sea can even be good for marine wildlife if done properly.

Aside from the green sector, our coastal waters also hold a wealth of oil and gas resources that numerous prospectors are hoping to exploit, even if people in coastal and island areas are as yet unsure of the potential benefits or pitfalls for their communities.

Changing Ocean Climate

Our ocean and climate are inextricably linked - the ocean plays a crucial role in the global climate system in a number of ways. These include absorbing excess heat from the atmosphere and absorbing 30 per cent of the carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere by human activity. But our marine ecosystems are coming under increasing pressure due to climate change.

The Marine Institute, with its national and international partners, works to observe and understand how our ocean is changing and analyses, models and projects the impacts of our changing oceans. Advice and forecasting projections of our changing oceans and climate are essential to create effective policies and management decisions to safeguard our ocean.

Dr Paul Connolly, CEO of the Marine Institute, said, “Our ocean is fundamental to life on earth and affects so many facets of our everyday activities. One of the greatest challenges we face as a society is that of our changing climate. The strong international collaborations that the Marine Institute has built up over decades facilitates a shared focusing on our changing ocean climate and developing new and enhanced ways of monitoring it and tracking changes over time.

“Our knowledge and services help us to observe these patterns of change and identify the steps to safeguard our marine ecosystems for future generations.”

The Marine Institute’s annual ocean climate research survey, which has been running since 2004, facilitates long term monitoring of the deep water environment to the west of Ireland. This repeat survey, which takes place on board RV Celtic Explorer, enables scientists to establish baseline oceanic conditions in Irish waters that can be used as a benchmark for future changes.

Scientists collect data on temperature, salinity, water currents, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the Atlantic Ocean. This high quality oceanographic data contributes to the Atlantic Ocean Observing System. Physical oceanographic data from the survey is submitted to the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and, in addition, the survey contributes to national research such as the VOCAB ocean acidification and biogeochemistry project, the ‘Clean Atlantic’ project on marine litter and the A4 marine climate change project.

Dr Caroline Cusack, who co-ordinates scientific activities on board the RV Celtic Explorer for the annual survey, said, “The generation of long-term series to monitor ocean climate is vital to allow us understand the likely impact of future changes in ocean climate on ecosystems and other marine resources.”

Other activities during the survey in 2019 included the deployment of oceanographic gliders, two Argo floats (Ireland’s contribution to EuroArgo) and four surface drifters (Interreg Atlantic Area Clean Atlantic project). The new Argo floats have the capacity to measure dissolved ocean and biogeochemical parameters from the ocean surface down to a depth of 2,000 metres continuously for up to four years, providing important information as to the health of our oceans.

During the 2019 survey, the RV Celtic Explorer retrieved a string of oceanographic sensors from the deep ocean at an adjacent subsurface moored station and deployed a replacement M6 weather buoy, as part of the Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network (IMDBON).

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the IMDBON is managed by the Marine Institute in collaboration with Met Éireann and is designed to improve weather forecasts and safety at sea around Ireland. The data buoys have instruments which collect weather and ocean data including wind speed and direction, pressure, air and sea surface temperature and wave statistics. This data provides vital information for weather forecasts, shipping bulletins, gale and swell warnings as well as data for general public information and research.

“It is only in the last 20 years, meteorologists and climatologists have really began to understood the pivotal role the ocean plays in determining our climate and weather,” said Evelyn Cusack, Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann. “The real-time information provided by the Irish data buoy network is particularly important for our mariners and rescue services. The M6 data buoy in the Atlantic provides vital information on swell waves generated by Atlantic storms. Even though the weather and winds may be calm around our shores, there could be some very high swells coming in from Atlantic storms.”