Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of marine rescues on Lough Foyle in the past 20 years indicating dates and times of rescues; if he will provide a general indication of marine rescue missions in the years preceding 1987 on Lough Foyle dating back to the foundation of Malin Marine Rescue Centre in the early 1900s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10101/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to 2001 Malin Head (and Valentia) Stations were commercial coast radio stations whose principal responsibility was to carry out ship-to-shore links to shipping, issue weather forecasts and navigational warnings and log fishing reports. The Coordination of search and rescue for the north and northwest coast was delegated to Malin Head and Valentia from MRCC Dublin in 2001. Emergencies occurring in the Region were co-ordinated from the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin since the early 1990's and before that from MRCC Shannon. Lough Foyle divides the search and rescue regions of the Irish Coast Guard of the Department of Transport and the United Kingdom Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA). Half of the Lough lies in the Irish search and rescue region and half in the UK region.

Detailed records have been compiled for all marine incidents following the setting up of the Irish Marine Emergency Service in 1991. Some records from earlier years are in long-term storage. Records available show a detailed breakdown of incidents by type across the three Co-ordination centres at Malin Head, Valentia and Dublin. They do not provide a breakdown by specific location, however.

Malin Head records of recent years have been examined to extract incidents in Lough Foyle. Several of these involved joint operations with Belfast Coastguard. The latter have advised the Irish Coast Guard that they had eight incidents in Lough Foyle in 2007.

Details of the above incidents in Lough Foyle which were dealt with by MRSC Malin Head follow and the general trend could be taken to reflect previous years.

On 1/01/2001, a sighting of an Upturned Hull off Moville Light was reported

On 10/02/2001 a flare was reported in Lough Foyle

07/04/2001 three flares were reported off Greencastle

24/05/2001 a Speed Boat was reported adrift off Greencastle with four people on board

On 07/07/2001 the Fishing Vessel Day Dream was reported drifting without power at Redcastle

On 15/08/2001 a sick crewman taken ashore from the Fishing Vessel Castle Queen

17/08/2001 report of a Log at mouth of Lough with possible danger to navigation for small boats.

On 07/09/2001 the Éireann Sea was reported aground on sandbank off Redcastle

On 25/09/2001, a small boat was reported dragging anchor off Greencastle

09/12/2001, Assistance to Gardaí in search of a missing person in Moville Bay

26/01/2002 a report of a Dredger causing danger to Fishing Vessel Girl Nicola

28/01/2002 report of an Old Fishing Vessel Sans Peur which broke moorings and was drifting

03/02/2002 request for assistance to Police in N. I. with search of missing person at the mouth of the River Foyle

14/05/2002 report of a Yacht Morning Glory going aground south of Moville

09/06/2002 report of Yacht Jade broken from moorings and drifting

13/06/2002 report of an Oil slick off Carrickarory pier

23/06/2002 report of Fishing Vessel Randon Harvest — water in engine room at Greencastle

08/07/2002 Nets in propeller of Fishing Vessel Bangor Crest, towed to Greencastle

15/08/2002 report received of Ferry Greencastle/ Magilligan with a lost forward ramp with danger of taking water

13/09/2002 fibreglass boat was reported adrift off Greencastle

14/09/2002 a broken down speedboat was reported requiring a tow

30/09/2002 a 24ft fishing vessel with a rope around propeller required tow

31/12/2002 assistance requested for UK Coastguard with search of Donegal shoreline for missing Anglers

22/02/2003 car reported stuck on beach

13/04/2003 Jet ski adrift and towed ashore

19/04/2003 an overturned yacht in water was reported and two persons were recovered.

22/04/2003 2 large floating objects required towing ashore

07/05/2003 Yacht Firecracker was reported broken free, towed to Greencastle

11/05/2003 four barrels floating reported as a danger to small craft were taken ashore, off Warren point

11/06/2003 a mussel dredger sank off Ture Light

15/06/2003 the Yacht Ryvoran reported aground near Tuns Buoy

16/06/2003 a small Inflatable reported adrift off Greencastle

18/06/2003 Fishing Vessel Seacraft reported Broken down off Warren Point Light

18/06/2003 the Cruiser Fairmaid broke moorings and reported drifting off Moville

19/06/2003 Fishing Vessel Helen Mary reported broken down and drifting off Benowen Strand

06/07/2003 a small fishing vessel reported adrift off Moville

06/07/2003 the Yacht Niamh reported aground off Redcastle

10/07/2003 Dinghy reported capsized off Moville

11/07/2003 the Yacht Streaker reported adrift off Greencastle

26/07/2003 a speedboat reported broken down and drifting

27/07/2003 the Swiller Warrior was reported taking water off Moville

25/08/2003 request to assist Gardaí in shoreline search for missing persons

31/08/2003 the Foyle Venture reported aground at Magilligan

26/10/2003 Report of a glider down near Greencastle

01/11/2003 Red flare Report in Greencastle area

09/11/2003 fishing vessel Spiritual Vessel reported going on rocks near Moville

18/01/2004 three persons in difficulty in a rowing boat at Lisahally

10/02/2004 report of red flares

28/03/2004 report of a dive boat broken down require tow

04/05/2004 persons reported in the water off Culmore Point

16/05/2004 report of the Yacht Saratoga aground on Sandbank

28/05/2004 report of the Yacht Mucmara aground off Moville

28/05/2004 Foyle Venture Ferry reported loss of engine power

14/06/2004 Motor Vessel Topgallant reported an injured crewman

10/07/2004 the Yacht Cruisen reported aground at McKinneys Light

26/08/2004 the Yacht Astral reported aground at Saltpans

26/08/2004 the Yacht Iolar na Mara reported adrift off Moville

26/08/2004 the Fishing Vessel Celtic Dawn reported taking water alongside Moville pier

13/09/2004 a 20ft yacht reported aground Moville

30/09/2004 request to assist Ambulance control with missing person outside Greencastle

18/10/2004 Report of warhead on Redcastle beach

02/05/2005 a Windsurfer reported in difficulty off Magilligan

10/07/2005 report of boat aground off Redcastle

21/07/2005 report of Bayliner Vessel aground Lough Foyle

21/07/2005 the Cruiser Uptowngirl reported aground in Lough Foyle

16/07/2006 Yacht Nokomis reported aground near Greencastle harbour

23/07/2006 Person in water in River Foyle near Craigavon bridge. UK Coastguard requested assistance

20/10/2006 Report of a red flare off Greencastle

10/08/2006 report of canoe capsized, three persons in water near Greencastle

16/08/2006 Fishing Vessel Eliz Christine reported engine failure requiring tow off Moville

22/08/2006 report of a red flare off Magilligan point

08/09/2006 the Fishing Vessel Eliz Christine, requiring a tow

05/10/2006 an overturned canoe reported floating off shore

20/10/2006 report of a red flare off pier Greencastle

18/01/2007 the Fishing Vessel Giolla Na Mara Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was detected

18/05/2007 the Yacht Aquilla reported aground off Moville

26/05/2007 Bay Cruiser reported broken down off Magilligan point requiring a tow

01/08/2007 a report of a boat (details unknown) broken down at mouth of Lough Foyle requiring a tow

25/07/2007 the Dinghy Laura reported semi submerged off Whitecastle

02/08/2007 report of three flares in Lough Foyle

24/08/2007 report of a small punt in the approaches to Lough Foyle

26/09/2007 report of a sick person on boat in Lough Foyle.