New Irish Maritime Administration to be created
The Republic of Ireland’s Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is to set up a new, over-arching maritime safety section, dubbed the Irish Maritime Administration, which will bring together the Irish Coast Guard and the Marine Survey Office (MSO), waypointmagazine reported.
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar announced the move on 25 July, which is part of an action plan to improve maritime safety and marine emergency response services, including an overhaul of operations within the Department. Speaking after the Irish cabinet approved the action plan, Varadkar said that the new Irish Maritime Administration will further focus the Department and its agencies on marine safety and protecting lives at sea.
The Irish Maritime Administration will have an over-riding emphasis on safety and will co-ordinate efforts more closely between the Irish Coast Guard, which provides an emergency maritime response service, and the MSO, which monitors safety standards on boats and in ports, according to the Department. Both the Coast Guard and the MSO are already sub-divisions of the Department, and back-office operations will be merged for the two operations.
The Irish Maritime Administration will also integrate operations between the three Coast Guard rescue co-ordination centres in Malin, Valentia and Dublin, and enhance volunteer training in the Coast Guard.
Varadkar commented: “The number of tragedies occurring around our coastline, and the families whose lives have been devastated by the loss of loved ones, has put the need for a new Maritime Safety Strategy into sharp focus. My key concern will be to create a culture of safety at sea, building a deeper awareness of what measures we can take to tackle risks together.