Irish vessels and crew have been warned over safety risks associated with a French military exercise off the South West Coast next week.
Marine Notice No 38 of 2022 from the Department of Transport gives details of the planned rocket-firing exercise in part of Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is currently scheduled for Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 June but may be postponed until a further date before Thursday 7 July.
“Given the nature of the planned exercises, vessels and crew are advised of safety risks in the operational area,” the notice adds.
Earlier this year, Russia sparked controversy when it announced plans for a similar firing exercise within the Irish EEZ. Those exercises were relocated after the Irish fishing industry voiced its concerns to the Russian ambassador, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.
Further details of this exercise, including coordinates, can be found in the Marine Notice attached below.
