Hello and welcome aboard this week’s edition of your maritime programme - on Seascapes this week we’ve our monthly report from the RNLI ; Fishmonger George Rogerson on a proud family tradition and his enthusiasm for fish; fishing and our maritime heritage; news of the Round Ireland Yacht Race from Wicklow Sailing Club ………..first on Seascapes to Acquaculture – and to our Galway Studios where Richie Flynn – Irish Farmers Association - Acquaculture Executive explained the current state of the industry.

Responding to the puListen Back blically advertised announcement this week by BIM of the opening of a capital grant aid scheme which aims to improve technical, quality and environmental standards in the aquaculture industry, IFA Aquaculture executive, Richie Flynn, said the rules established by Minister Coveney’s department on potential applicants effectively rules out the majority of the industry from availing of the limited funds available. The rules for grant aid insist that the applicant holds a “current licence” which is impossible to achieve at present, and also insists that the project be completed before the end of the calendar year, which is technically and practically unfeasible. "

Congratulations to Damian Foxall from Derrynane aboard Groupama in the Volvo Ocean Race –Franck Cammas and his men managed to contain the Spanish attack all the way to the finish line in Miami, which they crossed on Thursday …. This low-key result for Groupama 4 is still a job well done though, as the French boat has managed to hold onto second place in the overall standing and is now just eleven points shy of Telefonica………..the race finishes in Galway in just over a months time in July in Galway….
Speaking of Yachts and racing the indefatigable Denis Noonan of Wiclow Sailing Club has been in touch about the Round Ireland Yacht Race which begins on June 24th – this year they have a large entry –you can read more on the Seascapes webpage or visit www.wicklowsailingclub.com .

After four days of racing at the Laser World Championships in Germany, Irish sailor James Espey from Ballyholme Yacht Club in Belfast Lough achieved Olympic qualification when he made the Gold fleet in Day 4 of the event. Congratulations to him and to David Burrows and Peter O Leary who are competing in the Star Worlds in France.
Next on Seascapes to the Divisional Headquarters of the RNLI and this months report on the lifeboats from Niamh Stephenson

Summer is here and preparations for our new Lifeboat station on Lough Ree are well advanced. One of the most important parts of opening a completely new lifeboat station is that the volunteers who will operate the lifeboat are fully trained and understand all the equipment. Eight of the volunteers have just returned from the lifeboat college in Poole after completing a crew introduction course, including sea survival. The purpose built pool in the college has been designed to replicate different scenarios and volunteers can find themselves disorientated, in the dark and out of their lifeboat in rough water. They are then trained in how to deal with these conditions, keeping themselves safe while saving lives. As well as this course, four helms from the station will also be trained at the college later this month. This will all complement the training which is currently ongoing at the station and we wish them well.
Achill RNLI took part in an unusual exercise recently when they worked alongside Achill Coast Guard and Mayo County Council at the Achill Sound Bridge. The bridge to the island is a swing bridge, which can be opened to let marine traffic through. Engineers from the council staged an exercise to let the RNLI all weather lifeboat and Coast Guard. This was the first time a navigation exercise had been staged to open the bridge, which is relatively new. It went off perfectly and for those of you interested in how it looked there are photos available on the Seascapes web page thanks to Lifeboat Operations Manager Tom Honeyman. It was a busy week in the station as local fundraiser and artist Alexandra Van Tuyll also published her stunning book “Sea Meets Land”, with the proceeds from the sale going to the RNLI. The book is a beautiful chronicle of paintings from every county in Ireland that has a coastline and is available in RNLI shops and through Achill lifeboat station.
There has also been a farewell, a welcome home and congratulations in the RNLI. Well known Howth lifeboat mechanic George Duffy has hung up his oil skins after 44 years with the RNLI. George was a familiar face to so many people in the RNLI and was involved in many rescues over the years. We wish him a happy retirement. His successor, Ian Sheridan, is returning home after ten years with Ballycotton RNLI to take up the position of Howth RNLI mechanic. And Ballycotton lifeboat now has a new Coxswain and that honour falls to Redmond Lane-Walsh who joined the RNLI in 1976 and was Assistant Mechanic in 2000 and second Coxswain from 2003. Our best wishes go to all three.
Finally may we extend a huge thank you to everyone who donated and assisted with the RNLI’s MAYDAY appeal, which was proudly supported by John West. This was the first year we ran the appeal and we were delighted with the respone. Volunteer collectors were present at Dublin and Wicklow train stations and our mascot Stormy Stan was in his very own lifeboat at the top of Grafton Street. He needed it as unfortunately the weather was not kind to us but the warmth of the people we met certainly made up for it. All funds raised for MAYDAY go towards the training and equipping of Irish volunteer lifeboat crewmembers. We thank you as always for your support.

Last week we spoke to Brian Sheridan , Harbour master of Galway Port – well next week the International Harbour Masters Association will hold their biennial Congress in Cork – seascapes will be there and we’ll have more on next weeks programme.

A centenary after RMS Titanic set sail from Cobh, a fleet of the world’s harbour masters are set to anchor at Cork for the 8th International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA) Congress, entitled Global Ports & Marine Operations, which is being held during the 14th–18th May 2012 at Cork City Hall.

The prestigious IHMA Congress is held every two years and features a four-day conference, exhibition and exciting networking and social program. This is the first time that the Congress is being held in Ireland and given Cork’s rich maritime history and amazing diversity, the 2012 Congress builds on the tradition of being hosted in a strategically significant location.
“We are delighted to host the IHMA Congress in Cork this year. It’s a great opportunity to showcase Cork City and our Port facilities around the harbour to the global delegates. Cork Harbour is steeped in maritime heritage and I am certain that there will be historical connections as well as commercial connections with the many countries represented at the Congress” said Captain Pat Farnan, Harbour Master Port of Cork Company and Chairman of the IHMA Congress.
The Congress will attract over 300 local and international attendees, including over 30 leading industry speakers. The event is supported by a trade exhibition featuring over 40 companies from across the world with guests travelling from as far as Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, UK and the UAE.
The 2012 IHMA Congress in Cork will explore and address the changing landscape of ports and how these changes are redefining the role of harbour masters in the future. Addressing the theme, "Marine experience: Can we manage tomorrow's port without it?" the 2012 IHMA Congress showcases technical and operational breakthroughs together with international case studies on the development and management of modern port and marine operations across the globe.

Thanks to Oliver Hawes and Pat Sweeney who let us know that On Thursday next the 17th the World Ship Society Cobh Branch celebrates the 50th Birthday of the Cill Airne M/V CILL AIRNE was the second last vessel built by the Liffey Dockyard Ltd., from their Alexandra Basin yard in Dublin in 1962, launched on 2nd. February and trials 2nd May for the then Cork Harbour Commissioners. One of two passenger tenders for use in lower Cork Harbour servicing transatlantic liners calling at Cobh. After only a few years in use the liners ceased calling and the two ships became surplus. The CILL AIRNE was acquired by the Nautical Department of the Cork Institute of Technology at Bishopstown for nautical and engineering training.
Copies of the book Liffey Ships by Pat Sweeney, which tells the story of iron and steel shipbuilding in Dublin between 1864 and 1969 will be available to buy. The guest speaker is Donal Burke former head of the National Maritime College of Ireland.
George Rogerson has over the past few decades developed a thriving family Fish business in Monkstown in Dublin he sources his fish from Kilmore Quay- as a boy growing up in Dun Laoghaire he spent much of his childhood on the Coal Harbour.
George Rogerson worked for many years for the Commissioners of Irish Lights and on the construction of the Kish Lighthouse.... The remarkable George Rogerson – fishmonger –seafarer and man of the sea.....

Olympic sailors in 3rd place going in to final day of the Star World Championships in Hyeres, France

Peter O’Leary from Cork and David Burrows from Dublin finished 18th today in the fifth race of the event just one place behind event leaders GBR Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson. This means they are in third place going in to the final day of the regatta today. Unlike the Olympic format where only the top 10 boats sail in the final medal race – todays race will see the whole fleet line up. The margins are so tights in this Olympic class that anyone in the top 10 could still stand on the podium after tomorrows race.
Providence Resources proud sponsors of the ISA Olympic Team
Meanwhile in Boltenhagen, Germany, James Espey (Ballyholme YC & Royal Ulster YC) finished the Laser World Championships with a personal best of 37th out of the 168 strong fleet. It was a great week for James who also achieved his target of Olympic qualification earlier.

In Zadar, Croatia the 49er duo who came back to form yesterday but still did not make the top 25 for the gold fleet agonizingly missing out by just one place having finished with a 1st, 5th, 4th & 3rd. Today they are 8th in the Silver fleet with one days racing left.

As these World Championships come to an end this week, the other two Olympic hopefuls Gerbil Owens and Scott Flanigan in the 470 and Ross Hamilton in the Finn are preparing for their Olympic qualifying events next week. Also training in Weymouth this week in advance of the Laser Radial World Championships was National Yacht Clubs Annalise Murphy whose event commences in Germany on Monday.

A note in to Seascapes from the National Museum of Ireland –
“As you may know, the Asgard will be put on display at the National Museum or Ireland, Collins Barracks, this summer. For the exhibition, we are collecting oral histories and memories of people who had some connection to the yacht., people who saw the boat in Kilmainham Jail. We would love people to share their memories, so that these could be incorporated into the exhibition. Their stories would be recorded and quotes of these recordings may be used in the exhibition. Anyone interested in sharing their memories can contact the museum at asgardmemories@museum.ie.

World Ship Society Lunch
Cobh Branch, Ireland.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the
MV Cill Airne
Thursday 17 May 2012
North Wall Quay, Dublin
Lunch onboard 12:30 for 1pm €25
Guest Speaker Donal Burke, former Head of NMCI
Spaces limited so early booking advisable
M/V CILL AIRNE was the second last vessel built by the Liffey Dockyard Ltd., from their Alexandra Basin yard in Dublin in 1962, launched on 2nd. February and trials 2nd May for the then Cork Harbour Commissioners. One of two passenger tenders for use in lower Cork Harbour servicing transatlantic liners calling at Cobh. After only a few years in use the liners ceased calling and the two ships became surplus. The CILL AIRNE was acquired by the Nautical Department of the Cork Institute of Technology at Bishopstown for nautical and engineering training.
Copies of the book Liffey Ships by Pat Sweeney, which tells the story of iron and steel shipbuilding in Dublin between 1864 and 1969 will be available to buy.

Following 2011’s successful Cork Harbour Summer School, Meitheal Mara is repeating the event this year in a similar format, at the same venue; the Port of Cork board-room, on Friday June 8th.The theme of the Summer School is ‘Cork Harbour, ‘Looking Out – Looking In’: the ‘Looking Out’ theme will deal with Cork Harbour’s significance in the past and present; the ‘Looking In’ theme will deal with topics covering the increasing use of every part of the harbour by a variety of users. Many of the presentations will be inclusive of both aspects.

The Summer School will be opened by Dr. Valerie Cummins of IMERC and sessions will be chaired by Capt. Pat Farnan, Harbour-master, Port of Cork and Mary McCarthy of the Sculpture Factory. Among the speakers are the Crawford Gallery’s Peter Murray on the maritime art of Cork Harbour, Damien O’Mahony of TEAM, Cork City Council, UCC Archaeologist Colin Rynne, Eddie English on the harbour as a cruising ground and Architect David Flannery on the vision for Spike Island.
The Summer School is one of the events promoted by Meitheal Mara with the object of building awareness the harbour, by showing the people of Cork city and county what a marvelous and magical place it is, by promoting a view of it as an organic whole and finally by getting people on the water in events like the Ocean to City Race, the Cork Harbour Raid and the Spike Island Picnic.
For Information:
Contact Marina Sheehan, Meitheal Mara, 021 4847673 or marina@oceantocity.com