Notice to all Shipowners, Fishing vessel owners, Agents, Shipmasters, Passengers Ship Masters, Skippers, Fishermen, Yachtsmen and Seafarers

INFOMAR Hydrographic Survey

A hydrographic survey operation will be carried out off the coast of Dublin, Meath and Louth between the 25th of November and 10th December as part of the INFOMAR programme.  The Celtic Voyager is expected to survey from Howth Head northwards to Clogher Head, operating from the 20m contour to the 70m contour. 

Vessel Name:   R.V. Celtic Voyager

Flag State:       Ireland

Call Sign:         EIQN

Length:             34.4m

Breadth:           8.5m

Draught:           3.8m (maximum)

Tonnage (GRT): 340 Tonnes

The vessel will display appropriate lights and markers.  She will be towing a magnetometer from time to time with a single cable of up to 100m long.   Deployment of water level recording equipment will be necessary on the seabed at certain locations.  These will be marked with appropriate buoys/lights and radio notices.

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.

All vessels, particularly those engaged in fishing, are requested to give the “R/V Celtic Voyager”, and her towed equipment, a wide berth and keep a sharp lookout in the relevant areas.

The International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea are implemented in Irish law by the Collision Regulations (Ships and Water Craft on the Water) Order, 1984 (S.I. No. 29 of 1984) as amended by the Collision Regulations (Ships and Water Craft on the Water) Orders, 1990 (S.I. No. 36 of 1990), 1993 (S.I. No. 287 of 1993) and 2005 (S.I. No. 47 of 2005).  These Statutory Instruments are available from the Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.  Tel: (01) 6476834/35/36/37.  Also available on the web: www.irishstatutebook.ie

The INtegrated Mapping FOr the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s MArine Resource (INFOMAR) programme is a joint venture between the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Marine Institute. The programme is a successor to the Irish National Seabed Survey (INSS) and concentrates on creating a range of integrated mapping products of the physical, chemical and biological features of the seabed in the near-shore area.

The programme is being funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources as part of the National Development Plan, 2007 – 2013.

INFOMAR will initially focus on 26 priority bays and three priority areas around the coast delivering: hydrographic maps illustrating everything from sandbars to underwater canyons and cliffs; seabed classification maps showing the type of sediment on the seabed, for example sand and gravel deposits which could provide potentially valuable marine aggregates for the construction industry; and habitat maps showing areas which provide homes to a wide range of marine flora and fauna.

For additional information contact:-

Web:   http://www.infomar.ie

Marine Institute Press Office: +353 (0) 91 387 200

INFOMAR offshore & GSI onshore digital data can be downloaded via https://jetstream.gsi.ie/iwdds/index.html

Director General

Maritime Safety Directorate

Department of Transport

Leeson Lane

Dublin 2

Marine Notice No. 46 of 2009:

23/11/2009

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 November 2009 )