Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 337: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of days for which the two Marine Institute research vessels the [i]Celtic Explorer[/i] and the [i]Celtic Voyager[/i] were at sea in 2004; the number of days lost due to weather conditions; the running costs for each vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26569/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Marine Institute that both the Celtic Explorer and Celtic Voyager had a busy year in 2004. The Celtic Voyager had 184 scheduled days with 24 days downtime due to weather. The Celtic Explorer had 263 scheduled days with 8.5 days downtime due to weather. These figures do not include mobilisation and demobilisation days, open days, re-fits, maintenance or passage in the case of the Celtic Voyager.

The following table sets out the running costs for both vessels. The combined figure covers shore technical support costs and overheads such as insurance etc.