Displaying items by tag: Silting

13th April 2022

Silting at Sligo Harbour but Dredging Port Is Not Viable Says New Report

Silting has filled up Sligo Port but dredging not viable says report. The scene above AFLOAT adds is taken from the bridge of Ceg Cosmos, a general cargo when on the approaches to the north-west harbour which is the only port located between Galway and Derry. The digger on the hold deck hatch cover is used for handling cargoes such as round timber (logs).

There are fears for the future of Sligo harbour (a commercial port) after it was revealed on Monday that it is full of sludge which would cost millions of euro to clear, money that’s not available and dredging is not viable to do according to a report.

Councillor Declan Bree told the monthly council meeting that he was astonished and dismayed when he read the dredging report on Sligo Harbour which was recently presented to members of the Harbour Advisory Committee.

The report states that last year’s underwater surveys show silt volumes at the quays have nearly doubled since the last survey in 2011 – from 5,500cu m to 9,600cu m.

“It states that because of the increased volumes of silt a new ‘Dumping at Sea’ permit will be required. It points out that the Foreshore Licence for dredging which was granted to the Council in 2014 is now expired and it says that an application for a new license will take at least 18 months to prepare and will cost in the region of €100,000 in consultants fees, studies and site investigations.

“It states the full dredging of the harbour and navigation channel would cost close to €10 million, and a reduced dredging scheme for a turning circle and a short length of the channel would cost just under €2 million.

Much more reports The Sligo Champion on the north-west port.

Published in Dredging

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Silting Issues at Heysham Sees Dredging Resolve for the Time Being

Silting at Heysham has led to dredging to resolve the issue at the Lancashire port, England. Above AFLOAT adds on the right is the IOMSPCo's ropax Ben-my-Chree berthed at the linkspan that serves ferry traffic of the operator's main route linking Douglas.

The issues surrounding silting in the Irish Sea ferry port of Heysham appear to have been resolved.

Last week, the Minister for Infrastructure, Tim Crookall MHK , spoke with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company regarding the problems that plagued the port over the last few weeks.

Silt build-up in the harbour affected several sailings between Christmas and New Year.

Journey departure times were moved around as the Packet made changes after reading the depth chart report at Heysham.

IOM Today has more on the north-west English port.

Published in Dredging

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About Conor O'Brien, Irish Circumnavigator

In 1923-25, Conor O'Brien became the first amateur skipper to circle the world south of the Great Capes. O'Brien's boat Saoirse was reputedly the first small boat (42-foot, 13 metres long) to sail around the world since Joshua Slocum completed his voyage in the 'Spray' during 1895 to 1898. It is a journey that O' Brien documented in his book Across Three Oceans. O'Brien's voyage began and ended at the Port of Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland, where he lived.

Saoirse, under O'Brien's command and with three crew, was the first yacht to circumnavigate the world by way of the three great capes: Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin; and was the first boat flying the Irish tri-colour to enter many of the world's ports and harbours. He ran down his easting in the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties between the years 1923 to 1925.

Up until O'Brien's circumnavigation, this route was the preserve of square-rigged grain ships taking part in the grain race from Australia to England via Cape Horn (also known as the clipper route).

At a Glance - Conor O'Brien's Circumnavigation

In June 1923, Limerick man Conor O’Brien set off on his yacht, the Saoirse — named after the then newly created Irish Free State — on the two-year voyage from Dun Laoghaire Harbour that was to make him the first Irish amateur to sail around the world.

June 1923 - Saoirse’s arrival in Madeira after her maiden passage out from Dublin Bay

2nd December 1924 - Saoirse crossed the longitude of Cape Horn

June 20th 1925 - O’Brien’s return to Dun Laoghaire Harbour