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About LinkBacksThere is no SAR at Cork.Originally Posted by FakeViking
There is at Sligo.
Factoring those in, what parts of the coast are further from a designated base? Do those parts have similar levels of night-time maritime traffic?
There is no SAR at Cork.
There is at Sligo.
Factoring those in, what parts of the coast are further from a designated base? Do those parts have similar levels of night-time maritime traffic?
Yes correct, the Cork Swansea line reintroduction was footed by the general public (subscriptions) and not by Central government. Again, evidence of how little knowledge or interest this parish pump focused government has in anything that happens over the horizon.
They ignore completely commercial traffic which transits the south coast and uses the ports of Rosslare, Waterford & Cork.
They are ignoring the requirement for safety, security and rescue of the fishermen of Kilmore Quay, Dunmore and Ballycotton etc.
They ignore equally the amateur pleasureboat users who present the greatest problem. Keeping in mind that the south and west coast is also a well trodden route for the yachty fraternity from the UK and the continent. Not just during Fastnet race and Cork week seasons but for practically 6 months of the year.
This compares not too favourably with the Spanish and French governments who with even less EEZ water to patrol see fit to escort their tuna fishing fleets with government supplied support vessels well beyond their shores. Imagine this government fathoming that it actually made commercial and humanitarian sense to do that?
This is the government we are depending on to negotiate extension of our EEZ for exploration rights past the current 200 mile limit and they can´t even take responsibility for providing 24hour helicopter coverage along the coast.
I think Dempsey needs to spend a few weeks at sea, maybe on a Killybegs pelagic fishingboat in the North Atlantic and he might have a greater appreciation for the vastness of the area he is responsible for managing. At the least he could spend a few days on a trawler off the south coast in areas of the EEZ that are as close to France as Ireland where he can pray that if his appendix bursts it happens by day or else he´s close enough to the British or French Coastguard to get help.
And we wonder what fine minds gave the Corrib Gas away for free? Sorry but that´s another rant. This "couldn´t give a damn" approach to protecting lives and managing what is our national and sovereign responsibility is a total disgrace. I´m not happy with it.
Cork and the SouthWest coast is serviced by Shannon & Waterford SAR. This geographical area extends well past the harbours and bays of West Cork & Kerry. Out to 200 nautical miles in fact which equates to around 400 km past the coast.
The Cork Swansea ferry is the least of the problems likely. It´s a big well lit, stable platform with firefighting and medical equipment onboard traveling a short distance at relatively good speed.
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There are countless other vessels in the area at any one time. Probably in the region of 200 fishing vessels, 100 commercial vessels, everything passing from North America to Rotterdam/Antwerp/UK ports and a plethora of yachts and other craft.
Lets not forget that the other SAR rescues may well be involved in Medivacs and mountain Rescue ashore or elsewhere around the coast.
If it´s necessary to provide a SAR helicopter in Waterford, it´s necessary to put it there 24 hours a day. An emergency can happen at any time. Do Emergency Ambulances and Fire Brigades only operate 12 hours a day?
Absconded as I pointed out to you before its a question of how best to employ scarce resources.This government havent a notion and worse dont give a flying ******************** about the citizens of this country. You defended how the dept and defence forces spent taxpayers money in a previous thread. Dismissing my contention that much of it could be better employed elsewhere.
Essential services will be withdrawn from 2012 and yet the dept of defence has a budget of circa 1 billion.
The Labour Party is a "betrayal to it's principles and objectives"(Pat Rabbitte)
Yes. An area of over 40,000 sq.km.
The people making this decision work nine to five I'd guess.If it´s necessary to provide a SAR helicopter in Waterford, it´s necessary to put it there 24 hours a day. An emergency can happen at any time. Do Emergency Ambulances and Fire Brigades only operate 12 hours a day?
SAR is the domain of the DOT, something which they have little interest in fulfilling it seems.
The DOD, odd as it may seem to you are tasked with Defence matters.
The overlap as we know is where the Naval Service come into the picture. These are the only professional mariners operating 24 hours a day are the thin blue line at sea with their ancient and inadequate fleet.
It might be better to hand responsibility of all marine management including SAR to them as they seem to be the only state body - maritime professionals and with their fingers on the pulse of whats happening offshore.
The €500 budget for SAR equates to 50 years.. Thats right FIFTY years of Naval Service annual budgets. So where´s your arguement for delivering value for money to the taxpayer.
It seems to me as if the Naval Service is providing excellent value for money at that rate.
The fact remains that the government as you rightly pointed out are clueless and oblivious. The amount of marine traffic off the coast while significant is not the point. Our seas are our responsibility. Vessels and people working and travelling through our waters are also our responsibility.
Every minute is of essence when a survivor is in the water. Sometimes the seas are too rough for rescue vessels to get to them in time, and the water temperature is never over 15º. And even if they can´t be saved having a body to bury is very important to families.
A maritime emergency can happen at any time and not just by day, collisions, fires, groundings and floodings are not unknown. Having a dedicated service which can deliver firefighters and extra pumping equipment to shipping operating off our coast is not a luxury these days or at least shouldn´t be seen as one. The expenditure in provision of such a service has to be seen in terms of what a cleanup and recovery operation would cost if the state does not supply emergency services in time. It seems the government doesn´t care about saving lives after office hours.
Then there's the RNLI - run as a charity, and exonerating the state from its responsibilities in the area.
Subsume the RNLI and marine SAR into the Coast Guard - fund the CG from port dues, and annual subscriptions from all fishing, leisure and commercial vessels in Irish waters.
Most continental countries require all leisure vessels to be registered, and to pay an annual fee to support rescue and port services.
A threat from the organisers of the Tall Ships Race in the summer of 2011 to not visit Waterford, as planned, might make these clowns reconsider. There will be every gombeen with a dinghy or a bathtub bobbing about in the surrounding waters when that takes place, trying to get a better view. With 500,000 visitors also expected a threat of withdrawal might have some clout.
I don't know the full details of Waterford's bid to host this event again but I'm assuming the availability of a nearby Coast Guard service had some influence on the outcome? Maybe the Government isn't interested in Tourism for events like this after 2011...
We all love animals. Why do we call some 'pets' and others 'dinner'?
890,000 Square Km and very few votes.
This is such a stupid move.
My GF works as a Marine Biologist in the area and knew personally 5 fishermen killed in the last few years at sea.
The last thing they need right now is a decreased rescue service.
This is typical though, they're just blindly slashing everywhere in a desperate attempt to save money.... for what?????? Sure we'll just bail a few rich bankers/developers etc out.....
Unbelievable
HB
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