The Department of Transport has issued a safety notice to advise all users of Deutsche Schlauchboot GmbH (DSB) life rafts of important information regarding the equipment.

In June 2022, the UK-registered stern trawler Piedras (FD 528) flooded while fishing 78 nautical miles south-west of Mizen Head, Co Cork.

The United Kingdom’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch has issued a Safety Bulletin following an inspection of the life raft that was used by the crew to abandon ship during this incident.

The inspection found that the life raft had not been correctly serviced since its manufacture by DSB in March 2007, despite having been routinely certified by the service station Comfer Marin SL, Marin, Spain.

Therefore, owners and operators of DSB life rafts serviced by Comfer Marin SL, Spain, between January 2017 and June 2022 are advised to contact their nearest approved Survitec life raft service station without delay to arrange for their life rafts to be reinspected and serviced to ensure that they are in working order and comply with all statutory requirements.

Details of Survitec life raft service stations can be found HERE.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Codling Wind Park Ltd that a geophysical survey will be conducted in the shallow sub-tidal area of South Dublin Bay and also around the Pigeon Park area in the River Liffey channel.

The project works will commence on or around Monday 14 August and will continue through to early September 2023, subject to weather and operational constraints.

Survey operations will be conducted by the AMS Panther (callsign 2EHC2). This vessel will be conducting geophysical surveys for several days which may extend in the event of poor weather conditions.

Throughout the survey operations, the vessel will be displaying the appropriate lights and shapes as required under the COLREGS Rule 27(b). The vessel will be towing survey equipment and will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre during survey operations. All other vessels within the vicinity are therefore requested to leave a wide berth.

Coordinates and a map of the survey areas as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 50 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport is reminding all masters, owners and users of recreational craft of the need to think and prepare before going out on the water.

All owners and users of recreational craft should follow this checklist of basic requirements and advice both before going on the water and while on the water:

✓ Get training from an approved training provider in the correct use of the type of craft you wish to use;

✓ Wear a suitable personal flotation device/lifejacket: Know about the legal requirements in relation to the wearing and carrying of PFDs/lifejackets and the need for the proper care and maintenance of such devices. Select the proper type based on activity or boating conditions. See Marine Notice No 32 of 2019 for further information;

✓ Check current weather forecasts and sea/lake/river conditions prior to departure and plan your voyage accordingly;

✓ Check for any hazards and risks and prepare a passage plan;

✓ Avoid operating alone: There are increased risks involved with single person operation when there is nobody else on board or nearby to help you or to raise the alarm. Make sure you have an effective means of quickly re-boarding the boat in the event that you fall overboard;

✓ Carry out pre-departure safety checks and briefing: Check your craft and safety equipment. All persons on board should know what to do in the event of an emergency, where the safety/emergency equipment is on board, eg flares, radio equipment, lifejackets, etc and how to use the equipment;

✓ Tell someone about the plans for your trip: A designated person ashore should know your departure and return times, where you are going, and what to do to raise the alarm if necessary;

✓ Bring a dependable means of communication: VHF radio equipment is the recommended method of communication and craft users should be familiar with its use; reference Marine Notice No 70 of 2022. Mobile phones should not be relied on and should only be considered as a back-up means of communication. Where mobile phone use is proposed, the phone should be in a waterproof pouch with a lanyard, be fully charged at all times and the signal strength and charge indicator should be regularly checked while the vessel is under way;

✓ Emergency beacons: Consider having a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or an Emergency Position Indicating Beacon (EPIRB) as appropriate. See Marine Notice No 25 of 2010 as amended, Marine Notice No 38 of 2013 and Marine Notice No 70 of 2022 for further information, including in relation to registration of PLBs and EPIRBs;

✓ Do not consume alcohol or drugs before or during a trip: When operating a recreational craft, a person must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or any combination of drugs or of drugs and alcohol;

✓ Be aware of and recognise the symptoms of fatigue: Get proper sleep and rest before your journey;

✓ Relax and float: If you fall into the water, the initial shock of being in cold water can cause you to gasp and panic. Stay calm and relax. Try to float or tread water while you catch your breath. A properly fitted lifejacket will keep your head above water, ensuring you gasp air. Try to get hold of something that will help you float and get as much of your body out of the water as possible. To lessen heat escape, keep your legs together with arms/elbows by your side. Once you are calm, call for help;

✓ Wear suitable clothing and footwear;

✓ In a marine emergency, raise the alarm on VHF Channel 16 or call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.

The Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft provides information on the legislation that applies to recreational craft, as well as safety advice and best practice operational guidance for owners, masters, operators and users of a range of pleasure and recreational craft operating in Irish coastal and inland waters.

The code highlights the importance of personal responsibility for all those who take to the water. Each person must take maritime safety seriously, prepare and plan for a safe trip, behave responsibly on the water and be properly equipped to be able to respond to any incidents that may arise.

A revised Code of Practice is being developed following a review of the 2017 edition within the Irish Maritime Directorate and consultation with the public and key stakeholders. An updated edition will be published later in 2023.

Additional online publications in relation to safety on the water are available at Gov.ie.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta (FST) that benthic and geotechnical survey vessels will be deployed at the site of the proposed Sceirde Rocks Windfarm in north Galway Bay off southwestern Connemara.

The deployment will take place from this Saturday 29 July — as with the metocean survey previously reported on Afloat.ie — to the end of September, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The benthic survey will take place using the vessel Ocean Navigator (callsign EI018) which will operate in daylight hours. The geotechnical survey will take place using the vessels Geoquip Seehorn (callsign 5BSW) and Glomar Vantage (callsign HO3057) which will operate on a 24-hour basis.

Coordinates and a map of the deployment area as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 47 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta (FST) that a metocean survey comprising one large metocean buoy and two trawl resistant seabed frames will be deployed at the site of the proposed Sceirde Rocks Windfarm in north Galway Bay off southwestern Connemara.

The deployment will take place between this Saturday 29 July and the end of August, subject to weather and operational constraints.

Equipment will remain in place for up to 24 months, and periodic service visits to the equipment will take place throughout the survey period.

The metocean buoy has a hull diameter of 3.6m and focal height of 4m. The buoy is yellow in colour and displays a St Andrew’s Cross. It is mounted with one automatic identification system (AIS) unit (161.975 MHz) and one navigation light (sequence Fl(5) 20s, range 3nm).

The buoy is double moored using a mooring chain and sinker blocks. The anchor and sinkers will be placed approximately 200m away from the metocean buoy. The mooring line will consist of approximately 200m of chain per leg, partially suspended in the water column and partially laying on the seabed.

The trawl-resistant seabed frames are approximately one square metre each and will be unmarked.

This metocean equipment will be deployed from the ILV Granuaile (callsign EIPT), which will operate on a 24-hour basis. Throughout operations, the vessel will display the appropriate lights and shapes as required under the COLREGS Rule 27 (b).

During operations, the vessel will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre. Vessels are requested to leave a wide berth during the deployment operations.

Radio transmissions will be conducted with other seafarers to notify them of the operations. All vessels will monitor VHF Channel 16 for emergency communications with other seafarers and then mutually agree another channel to switch to for further discussion as needed.

Coordinates and a map of the deployment area as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 46 of 2023, attached below.

The construction of a sustainable transport bridge at the Port of Waterford between the North and South Quays was expected to begin on Monday 24 July.

These works will be ongoing until the end of 2024, subject to weather and operational constraints.

Three barges will be in operation during the works: the ACN5, the Ardon and the Skerchi — the latter of which will be relocated at various times during construction. The barges will exhibit a sign that reads “Warning – Marine Works – KEEP AWAY”.

Barge masters will maintain a continuous VHF watch on Channels 6 and 16. A safety boat will be always in attendance with the barges during construction works.

All vessels approaching the area of operations should communicate with the barges on VHF Channel 6 and proceed with caution, giving them a wide berth where possible.

The channel will remain navigable between Pier C and Pier D but temporary navigation lights will be established. The existing red lights on the east and west ends of the clock tower pontoon will be replaced by yellow lights.

In addition, to facilitate the works the pontoon at the clock tower will be partially dismantled and is no longer available for use.

Coordinates and a map of the work area as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 51 of 2023, attached below.

Vermilion Exploration & Production Ireland Limited is carrying out a maintenance campaign at the Corrib Gas Field subsea infrastructure, with spot rock placement along the main umbilical.

Works were due to commence in the field on Sunday 25 June to last for around three days, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The vessel FFPV Stornes (Callsign PCKX) is undertaking the subsea scope of work during day and night hours, displaying all appropriate lights and signals while carrying out rock placement activities using a fall-pipe system and associated acoustic survey equipment.

All equipment will be vessel and/or remote operated vehicle (ROV) mounted. Visual and acoustic surveys will be conducted by means of vessel- and ROV-mounted cameras and sensors. The work vessel will be listening on VHF Channel 16 throughout the project.

Coordinates and a map of the survey area as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 36 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport has been advised that geotechnical surveys will be undertaken in the Irish Sea off the Wicklow coast to provide site investigation information to facilitate the development of phase two of the Arklow Bank Wind Park project.

It’s anticipated that the survey works will commence by the end of June and be completed by the end of October 2023, subject to operational and weather constraints.

Surveys will be conducted by the jack-up barge OCM 80 Mariner (Callsign OCM 80) and MV Connector (Callsign OYOJ2). The survey activities will include approximately five boreholes and various seabed penetration tests, and the vessels will be operating on a 24-hour basis.

The OCM 80 Mariner is an 18m jack-up barge with a draught reported to be 1.2m and beam of 12m; the barge is positioned by a support tug. The MV Connector vessel is a 90m DP2 multipurpose vessel, with a current draught reported to be 7m and beam of 19m.

As these vessels will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre when surveying, all other vessels are requested to leave a wide berth. Mariners are advised to keep continuous watch on VHF Channel 16 when navigating the area.

A fisheries liaison officer will be available to discuss operations in advance and throughout the duration of the survey campaign.

Coordinates and a map of the survey area as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 37 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport has been advised that a geophysical and geotechnical surveys is being undertaken by Green Rebel Marine in the Irish Sea to assess cable burial on behalf of MDM.

The survey work was anticipated to start on Monday 19 June and will be completed by the end of September, subject to weather and operational constraints.

Surveys will be conducted by two vessels: the semi-SWATH catamaran Roman Rebel (callsign 2ICA5) which will conduct 24-hr operations, and the Lady Kathleen (callsign EIXT2), a catamaran which will conduct 12-hr operations. Both vessels will display appropriate lights and signals.

As the survey vessels will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre when surveying, due to the deployment of the towed survey equipment from the vessel for the duration of the survey activities, other vessels are kindly requested to keep a wide berth.

Mariners are advised to keep continuous watch on VHF Channel 16 when navigating the area.

Coordinates and a map of the survey areas as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 40 of 2023, attached below.

The Department of Transport has been advised by the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at University College Cork that on on Tuesday 12 June it deployed 12 benthic sensors between the Seven Heads and the Old Head of Kinsale in West Cork.

These sensors are being used in scientific research which aims to track skate using acoustic tracking equipment.

The benthic sensors will be deployed for 12 months. Each sensor consists of a mooring weight and an acoustic sensor for tracking tagged skate in the area. None have surface markers.

A map and coordinates of the sensor positions as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 39 of 2023, attached below.