#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises on proposals to complete the 2D seismic survey programme in the Atlantic waters of the Irish Designated Continental Shelf.

The planned start of the survey is mid-April 2014 and, weather permitting, will continue until mid-October 2014.

The programme will commence in the Porcupine Basin till early June and then progress to the Rockall Basin area.

The seismic acquisition will be carried out by the seismic vessel MV BGP Explorer (Call sign HP4919) and will be accompanied by guard/supply vessels MV Neptune 10 (Call sign ZDJQ8) and MV Neptune Mariner (Call sign ZDIW8).

The 2014 programme is proposed to complete the remaining 8,000km survey. The survey vessel BGP Explorer will tow a single solid 10km streamer and will travel at 4-5 knots with the streamer located approximately 10 metres below the water surface.

All vessels will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

All vessels, particularly those engaged in fishing, are requested to give the BGP Explorer, Neptune 10 and Neptune Mariner a wide berth and keep a sharp lookout in the relevant areas.

Details of the relevant survey area are included in Marine Notice No 28 of 2014, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has been advised that dredging and disposal works will commence in Wicklow Harbour (52° 58.9’N, 006° 02.1’W) on Thursday 10 April 2014 and will continue for a period of approximately 10 weeks.

The work will include dredging of the harbour and disposal of the dredged material at a designated dumping site.

The disposal site will be positioned 1.5km north-east of the harbour’s east pier, and the disposing of the material will be carried out by the vessel Jenny T (Call sign EIMY6).

All vessels in this area should proceed with extreme caution, reduce speed to a minimum and keep a close lookout for obstructions in the vicinity of the works.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) declares that the latest suite of Admiralty Digital Publications from the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office satisfies the carriage requirements for nautical publications on Irish ships that go to sea.

Guidance on the approved digital format nautical publications, such as navigation charts, is included in Marine Notice No 26 of 2014, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advices that a hydrographic and geophysical survey operation will be undertaken by INFOMAR for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) off the Clare coast and in Galway Bay between 16 April and 3 May 2014, following a similar survey ongoing in Donegal Bay.

The RV Celtic Voyager (Call sign EIQN) is expected to carry out survey operations within an area detailed in Marine Notice No 25 of 2014, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

The vessel will be towing a magnetometer sensor with a single cable of up to 100m in length, so all other vessels in the vicinity are requested to keep a wide berth. The vessel will display appropriate lights and markers, and will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

#MarineNotice - Marine Notice No 24 of 2014 advises that a hydrographic and geophysical survey operation will be carried out in Donegal Bay between 28 March and 3 April 2014 as part of the INFOMAR programme.

The RV Celtic Voyager (Call sign EIQN) is expected to carry out survey operations in an area bounded by the following co-ordinates:

NE Corner - Lat: 54° 37.545’N; Long: 08° 11.510’W
SW Corner - Lat: 54° 19.718’N; Long: 09° 29.418’W
NW Corner - Lat: 54° 41.909’N; Long: 09° 28.698’W
SE Corner - Lat: 54° 17.165’N; Long: 08° 50.486’W

The vessel will display appropriate lights and markers. The vessel will not be towing any instruments during this survey but will have limited manoeuvrability due to survey line constraints. The vessel will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

All mariners are reminded of their responsibilities under the International Collision Regulations and are reminded of Marine Notice No 17 of 2007, which gives general advice in relation to the activities of vessels engaged in survey work for hydrographic, seismic, fishing research and underwater operations.

The International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) are implemented in Irish law by the Merchant Shipping (Collision Regulations) (Ships and Water Craft on the Water) Order 2012 [SI No 507 of 2012], and the Signals of Distress (Ships) Rules 2012 [SI No 170 of 2012]. These Statutory Instruments may be purchased by mail order from Government Publications, Office of Public Works, 52 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 at 01 647 6834/1890 213 434 and are also available online at www.irishstatutebook.ie.

#MarineNotice - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has been advised that Shell E&P Ireland Limited will be deploying a Waverider buoy in early-to-mid April in order to help predict sea conditions for the Corrib P6 well intervention work by the Ocean Guardian (Call Sign V7FF7).

The buoy size is 90cm in diameter, and will be deployed at the location (approximate, with 100m watch circle) 54° 20’N, 011° 05’W (WGS84), weather permitting. The water depth at this location is 360 metres. The Waverider buoy will remain on site for approximately three months.

The wave rider buoy is yellow in colour, and will flash yellow 5 times every 20 seconds. A photograph of what the buoy looks like in the water is included in Marine Notice 23 of 2014, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

All vessels are requested to give the wave buoy a wide berth.

#MarineNotice - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that semi-submersible drilling rig Ocean Guardian (Call Sign V7FF7) will commence well intervention work for Shell E&P Ireland Limited on the Corrib Gas Field off the coast of Co Mayo around mid April 2014.

The rig is expected to be on location for a period of approximately 55 days, weather permitting. The vessel will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

Details of the planned position of the vessel for the wells are outlined in Marine Notice No 22 of 2014, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#radiosurveyor –The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport  is establishing a panel of radio surveyors for 2014 and the closing date for applications is in three weeks time.

Surveyors will carry out statutory radio surveys on Irish sea-going vessels including fishing vessels.

The Marine Survey Office (MSO) will select Surveyors and organisations for entry onto the panel. The panel will be established for a period of time of 3 years, subject to satisfactory performance. The MSO will monitor the performance of the Surveyors and organisations on the panel and this will include audits of the panel surveyor's activities, monitoring of survey reports submitted to the MSO and follow up by the MSO in relation to complaints or the receipt of incident reports concerning surveyed vessels.

The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is interested in appointing suitably qualified surveyors and organisations to a panel from which vessel owners may select a surveyor or company to survey their vessel for compliance with the relevant statutory provisions. The person commissioning the survey will cover the Surveyor's fees and to Surveying Irish sea-going vessels, within scope and unclassed, for compliance with the relevant Irish statutory radio requirements – as listed in the appendix

A copy of the request for applications document is included in the PDF to downad below.

Interested parties can access the tender information by visiting the eTenders Public

Procurement website at: http://etenders.gov.ie.

The closing date for applications is 15:00 on Friday 28th March

Irish Maritime Administration,

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport,

Leeson Lane, Dublin 2, Ireland.

#MarineNotice - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises on revisions to the performance standards for emergency beacons on small fishing vessels.

The revision includes the carriage requirements of manual/automatic activation float-free Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) for all fishing vessels of under 15 metres and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) for all crewmembers.

It follows the recent Marine Notice No 14 of 2014, which advised of a revised Code of Practice concerning the design, construction, equipment and operation of small fishing vessels less than 15 metres in length overall.

Full details of the revised standards are included in Marine Notice No 18 of 2014, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.

#MarineNotice - Marine Notice No 3 of 2014 provides guidance on the implementation of the Manila Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended (STCW), with respect to Electro-technical Officers (ETO) and Electro-technical Ratings (ETR).

The Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention and Code were adopted on 25 June 2010, marking a major revision of the STCW Convention and Code. The 2010 amendments entered into force on 1 January 2012 and introduced two new levels of certification for electro-technical personnel.

• ETO introduced as a new grade of officer at the operation level STCW Reg III/6
• ETR introduced as a new grade of rating at the support level STCW Reg III/7

As of 1 July 2013, new entrants commencing training must do so in accordance with the new Manila provisions. All training programs must be in accordance with the new Manila requirements. From 1 January 2017 all certificates must meet STCW Manila requirements.

New entrant ETOs that commenced training after 1 July 2013 that meet all the applicable requirements and pass a Marine Survey Office oral examination will be issued with a certificate of competency valid for five years from the date of issue. Further details will be included in the Examination Directions published by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

ETOs currently serving at sea may be considered to have met the requirements of STCW if they have served in a relevant capacity on board ship for a period of not less than 12 months within the five year period preceding 1 January 2012 and meet the standards of competence specified in the STCW Code.

The Marine Survey Office will compare the standards of competence of each applicant for ETO certificate of competency under this section with those specified in section A-III/6 of the STCW Code and determine the need, if any, for updating training to be carried out. Assessments will be done on an individual or case-by-case basis. Candidates should allow sufficient time for the assessment to be carried out. All applicants must:

• Complete an application form (EXN 3) and submit the relevant documents;
• Meet the medical fitness and eyesight requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Regulations, and produce a valid certificate;
• Have at least 12 months documented sea service in the five year period preceding 1 January 2012 as ETO on board ship (details of the type of ships, size, electrical systems on board including electrical generation systems, hotel systems, communications systems, GMDSS and bridge navigation systems should be provided);
• Complete an approved Electro Technical Officer Training Record Book; and
• Have completed approved training or refresher training in:
  • Proficiency in personal survival techniques (Table A-VI/1-1);
  • Proficiency in fire prevention and firefighting (Table A-VI/1-2);
  • Proficiency in elementary first aid (Table A-VI/1-3);
  • Proficiency in personal safety and social responsibilities (Table A-VI/1-4);
  • Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (Table VI/2-1);
  • Proficiency in Advanced Fire Fighting (Table A-VI/3);
  • Proficiency in Medical First Aid (Table VI/4-1);
  • Proficiency in Security awareness training (Table A-VI/6-1);
  • Human Element Leadership and Management (HELM).

When comparing standards of competence the following will be required:

• An appropriate third level qualification in marine electronics, electrical or communications;
• GMDSS Radio Maintenance Course or equivalent;
• GMDSS GOC (General Operators Certificate);
• High Voltage (Management Level) course or equivalent;
• Pass a Marine Survey Office oral examination.

Electro-technical officers applying for certificates of competency will be required to have High Voltage (HV) training whether or not they intend to work on ships with HV equipment. A HV system (over 1000V) is where voltage is generated and distributed at high voltage or transformed to and distributed at high voltage. It does not include systems where high voltage is utilised locally, eg ignition systems, radio transmission, radar or other navigational equipment.

HV courses previously undertaken prior to 1 July 2013 do not need to be approved but applicants must provide documentary evidence confirming the course covered at least the following topics:

• The hazards associated with High Voltage systems;
• Arrangement of High Voltage systems and their protective devices;
• Safety procedures related to High Voltage systems;
• Immediate actions to be taken under fault conditions;
• The functional, operational and safety requirements for a marine high-voltage system;
• Assignment of suitably qualified personnel to carry out maintenance and repair of high-voltage switchgear of various types;
• Taking remedial action necessary during faults in a high-voltage system;
• Producing a switching strategy for isolating components of a high-voltage system;
• Selecting suitable apparatus for isolation and testing of high-voltage equipment;
• Carrying out a switching and isolation procedure on a marine high-voltage system, complete with safety documentation; and
• Performing tests of insulation resistance and polarisation index on high-voltage equipment.

Meanwhile, electro-technical rating certificates will not be issued unless there is significant demand for them from the industry.