Mr Charlie McConalogue T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, today formally commissioned Ireland’s new marine research vessel, the RV Tom Crean, at an event in Dingle.
Minister Mc Conalogue said: “Ireland's ocean is vital to our economy, our environment, and many aspects of our daily lives. There has never been a time when we needed to improve our understanding of the Ocean more than now. We face the great interlinked global challenges of climate change, biodiversity and food security. Understanding the Ocean and the changes occurring within it is vital to all of our futures, at sea and on land.”
The new replacement vessel will ensure that Ireland continues to provide the best scientific advice underpinning key decisions on fisheries and marine/ocean policy issues to ensure the sustainable development of Ireland’s extensive marine resource. The RV Tom Crean will also enable Ireland to secure vital EU research funding for marine research while maintaining strong international maritime research partnerships.
The vessel will immediately undertake essential scientific work, which will support many of the projects outlined in the Programme for Government; including fisheries assessments, offshore renewable energy, marine spatial planning, marine protected areas and addressing the challenges of climate change.
Speaking at the commissioning Minister McConalogue said: “I am delighted to be here in Dingle today to formally commission the RV Tom Crean into service. This state-of-the-art vessel will enable Ireland to be at the forefront of critical ocean research work. I am proud to be able to say that the ship was delivered on budget and on time. As an Island nation, we are on the frontier of the Atlantic, an ocean which drives our climate. This new research vessel will immediately undertake essential scientific work, which will support many of the projects that this Government has prioritised and is urgently progressing, including fisheries assessments, offshore renewable energy, marine spatial planning, marine protected areas and addressing the challenges of climate change. The RV Tom Crean will provide us with a platform to gather the best scientific evidence to inform important decisions on fisheries and ocean policy and the key environmental and economic challenges facing us today.
Named the RV Tom Crean, after the Irish Explorer from Kerry who undertook three ground-breaking expeditions to the Antarctic in the early years of the 20th Century the new vessel will enable Ireland to undertake cutting edge scientific surveys that deepen our understanding of the ocean and place the Marine Institute as a leader in marine science
The Minister continued “The vessel is named after the legendary Tom Crean who encapsulated our proud history of engagement in global exploration. I am delighted that we are joined today by his family descendants. Naming this vessel for him celebrates Tom Crean’s life and achievements who I would like to think would himself approve of his illustrious name being associated with this vessel and more importantly, with the work it is embarking upon. The RV Tom Crean will provide cutting-edge technology for scientists to study and support the sustainable development of Ireland’s valuable marine resource. It will play an important, exciting, and valuable role for future generations as we seek to improve our scientific understanding of our oceans”.
This new marine research vessel replaces the RV Celtic Voyager, launched in 1987 as Ireland’s first purpose-built research vessel, which has now been decommissioned from service. The RV Tom Crean build and commissioning cost was €25 million. It is a silent vessel, capable of operating throughout the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It will be at sea for 300 operational days each year and the range of surveys will total 3000 scientists’ days a year. Each survey will last up to 21 days and the vessel is designed to operate in the harsh sea conditions of the Atlantic.
The ship design incorporates the latest proven technologies to ensure that it operates as efficiently as possible, with reduced fuel consumption and operating procedures that minimise the vessel’s environmental impact and carbon footprint.
Dr Connolly of the Marine Institute said: “The ocean is essential to life on earth. It produces half the oxygen we breath and is a major driver of our weather. We need the best quality data, science and advice to inform decisions on the big challenges facing society – mitigating the impacts of climate change, protecting and restoring ocean biodiversity, and realizing the full potential of our ocean economy. The new vessel will be used by the Marine Institute, other state agencies and universities to gather essential data that will be used to deliver the scientific advice for fisheries assessment, offshore renewable energy, marine spatial planning, marine protected areas and addressing the challenges of climate change.”
The vessel design incorporates the latest proven technologies to ensure that it operates as efficiently as possible, with reduced fuel consumption and minimising the vessel’s environmental impact and carbon footprint.
