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Displaying items by tag: State Boards

In recognition of International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Department of Transport is hosting a webinar to promote the benefits of gender balance, diversity and inclusion on its State Boards.

The department says it fully embraces the objectives identified in the Annex to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016: Gender, Diversity and Inclusion, and aims to attain the Government’s target of 40% gender balance on State Boards.

However, achieving this gender balance and diversity at board level remains challenging, it adds.

This event — hosted by Ken Spratt, Secretary General of the department — will focus on practical steps, demystify the process of applying for a State Board position and will provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities provided by board positions.

“Our aim is to attract a more gender balanced and diverse range of candidates for State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Transport, to equip those boards to deliver on their remit and enjoy the benefits that such diversity can bring,” it says.

Both Minister for Transport Eamonn Ryan and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton will contribute to the webinar “as they are both committed to continuously seeking out opportunities to drive further positive change,” the department adds.

“They recognise there is a significant pool of qualified and experienced female talent as well as candidates from other sectors of society, which would greatly enhance the culture and experience across our Transport Boards.”

This event is aimed at anyone who feels they could actively contribute to boards in the public transport, maritime, aviation and road safety arenas.

The webinar will take place from 10.45am to noon on Thursday 3 March. Also speaking will be Fiona Ross, chair of CIÉ, and Michelle Noone, head of senior and executive recruitment with the Public Appointments Service.

To attend the webinar, register via Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

For more information on how to apply for State Board appointments, vsit www.stateboards.ie.

Published in News Update

Marine Institute Research Vessel Tom Crean

Ireland’s new marine research vessel will be named the RV Tom Crean after the renowned County Kerry seaman and explorer who undertook three major groundbreaking expeditions to the Antarctic in the early years of the 20th Century which sought to increase scientific knowledge and to explore unreached areas of the world, at that time.

Ireland's new multi-purpose marine research vessel RV Tom Crean, was delivered in July 2022 and will be used by the Marine Institute and other State agencies and universities to undertake fisheries research, oceanographic and environmental research, seabed mapping surveys; as well as maintaining and deploying weather buoys, observational infrastructure and Remotely Operated Vehicles.

The RV Tom Crean will also enable the Marine Institute to continue to lead and support high-quality scientific surveys that contribute to Ireland's position as a leader in marine science. The research vessel is a modern, multipurpose, silent vessel (designed to meet the stringent criteria of the ICES 209 noise standard for fisheries research), capable of operating in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Tom Crean is able to go to sea for at least 21 days at a time and is designed to operate in harsh sea conditions.

RV Tom Crean Specification Overview

  • Length Overall: 52.8 m
  • Beam 14m
  • Draft 5.2M 

Power

  • Main Propulsion Motor 2000 kw
  • Bow Thruster 780 kw
  • Tunnel thruster 400 kw

Other

  • Endurance  21 Days
  • Range of 8,000 nautical miles
  • DP1 Dynamic Positioning
  • Capacity for 3 x 20ft Containers

Irish Marine Research activities

The new state-of-the-art multi-purpose marine research vessel will carry out a wide range of marine research activities, including vital fisheries, climate change-related research, seabed mapping and oceanography.

The new 52.8-metre modern research vessel, which will replace the 31-metre RV Celtic Voyager, has been commissioned with funding provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine approved by the Government of Ireland.

According to Aodhán FitzGerald, Research Vessel Manager of the MI, the RV Tom Crean will feature an articulated boom crane aft (6t@ 10m, 3T@ 15m), located on the aft-gantry. This will be largely used for loading science equipment and net and equipment handling offshore.

Mounted at the stern is a 10T A-frame aft which can articulate through 170 degrees which are for deploying and recovering large science equipment such as a remotely operated vehicle (ROV’s), towed sleds and for fishing operations.

In addition the fitting of an 8 Ton starboard side T Frame for deploying grabs and corers to 4000m which is the same depth applicable to when the vessel is heaving but is compensated by a CTD system consisting of a winch and frame during such operations.

The vessel will have the regulation MOB boat on a dedicated davit and the facility to carry a 6.5m Rigid Inflatable tender on the port side.

Also at the aft deck is where the 'Holland 1' Work class ROV and the University of Limericks 'Etain' sub-Atlantic ROV will be positioned. In addition up to 3 x 20’ (TEU) containers can be carried.

The newbuild has been engineered to endure increasing harsher conditions and the punishing weather systems encountered in the North-East Atlantic where deployments of RV Tom Crean on surveys spent up to 21 days duration.

In addition, RV Tom Crean will be able to operate in an ultra silent-mode, which is crucial to meet the stringent criteria of the ICES 209 noise standard for fisheries research purposes.

The classification of the newbuild as been appointed to Lloyds and below is a list of the main capabilities and duties to be tasked by RV Tom Crean:

  • Oceanographic surveys, incl. CTD water sampling
  • Fishery research operations
  • Acoustic research operations
  • Environmental research and sampling operation incl. coring
  • ROV and AUV/ASV Surveys
  • Buoy/Mooring operations