Irish energy company Energia Renewables has partnered with Sail Training Ireland to sponsor a sea voyage for 24 young people aboard the tall ship Pelican of London.

The ‘Voyage of Empowerment’ will set sail from Dublin on Saturday 27 May and will dock in Rosslare on Sunday 4 June where an awards ceremony will be held.

During the voyage, 24 young people from the South East will learn various skills including teamwork, communication and leadership as part of this exhilarating seafaring experience.

They will also learn about the marine environment and carry out marine science experiments and lab work while onboard.

Energia Renewables’ support for the voyage is part of the Irish company’s expressed commitment to sustainability and community.

The company is currently developing the South Irish Sea offshore wind energy project that will generate clean electricity for homes and businesses across the South East region and Ireland.

And the company says its partnership with Sail Training Ireland represents its commitment to support initiatives that benefit local residents and communities.

Twenty-four young people from the South East will board the tall ship Pelican of London on 27 May for a life-changing voyage

Speaking about the partnership, Jodie Neary, offshore stakeholder and engagement manager of Energia said: “We’re excited to partner with Sail Training Ireland to support their mission developing young people’s life skills through sail training.

“Sail Training Ireland does fantastic work building stepping stones for young people to enter employment, particularly in the maritime industry while also preserving the long maritime history of Ireland.”

She added: “We believe in the energy and potential of young people. Investing in youth development is critically important in building a sustainable future for Ireland, and we look forward to the positive impact that this partnership will have.”

Daragh Sheridan, chief executive of Sail Training Ireland said: “We’re delighted to have Energia’s support for our upcoming voyage. Sail Training Ireland offers an unforgettable experience for our young people, and we are proud to work with Energia Renewables as a leading Irish energy company to make this voyage even more accessible for participants. We look forward to making this a successful voyage for all involved.”

Sail Training Ireland was recently recognised in the Lord Mayor’s Awards for its contribution to youth development and education in Dublin and beyond.

The charity offers sail training voyages to young people from a range of backgrounds and abilities. The voyages help to develop essential life skills such as leadership, teamwork and communication, while also building self-confidence and resilience.

Energia intends to deploy marine acoustic monitoring equipment off the coasts of Co Waterford and Co Wexford between now and 24 February, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The deployments are part of works for Energia’s North Celtic Sea and South Irish Sea offshore wind projects in these respective areas.

The North Celtic Sea is a renewable energy project proposed to be located a minimum of 10km and up to 25km off the Co Waterford Coast. The South Irish Sea project, meanwhile, is proposed to be located a minimum of 10km and up to 25km off the coasts of Wexford and south Wicklow.

Acoustic monitoring equipment will remain on site for a period of three to four months, weather window permitting. After this period the devices will be retrieved and redeployed at new locations, that will continue to cover a 12-month period.

The equipment consists of four acoustic devices and their moorings, which will be used to monitor for marine mammal activity in the proposed wind park areas.

Deployments in both areas will be conducted by the MV Sharp Shooter (callsign EI5069). As this vessel will be deploying survey equipment, it will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre. All other vessels are requested to leave a wide berth during the operations and pass at minimum speed to reduce vessel wash.

The MV Sharp Shooter will be monitoring VHF Channel 16 and Working on VHF Channel 6. All operations will be during the hours of daylight only. Throughout survey operations, the vessels will be displaying the appropriate lights and shapes.

For more on the acoustic devices, their planned locations, relevant maps and contact details, see Marine Notice No 5 of 2023 and Marine Notice No 6 of 2023, attached below.