Madam, - Some of your readers may be aware of the decision by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to close the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre Dublin (MRCC Dublin), and transfer control to the two sub-centres at Malin Head, Co Donegal and Valentia Island, Co Kerry.
MRCC Dublin was established in 1990 on the recommendations of the Doherty report, which strongly identified the need for such a control centre on the east coast. It co-ordinates all marine incidents on the Irish Sea and south-east coastal waters, as well as all pollution and salvage incidents for all Irish waters.
The centre, situated in Leeson Lane, Dublin, is headquarters to the management of the Irish Coast Guard, and is manned 365 days a year by 17 fully qualified radio officers, who between them have had many years of experience at sea as marine radio officers before joining the Irish Coast Guard Service. For eight years prior to the designation of Malin Head and Valentia as marine rescue sub centres, theywere responsible for marine rescue on the whole of the Irish Coast. Needless to say, this has given rise to a huge amount of experience, and a large store of local knowledge which is invaluable for the rapid response to marine emergencies.
The Irish Sea is the busiest marine area of Ireland with thousands of passengers crossing it daily on the various ferries that sail between the Irish ports of Dublin, Dun Laoghaire and Rosslare to Holyhead, Liverpool, Pembroke and Fishguard. The August bank holiday weekend alone saw a total of 81,835 passengers and crew crossing by ferry, not to mention the numerous small leisure craft and commercial ships.
It seems strange that in this time of the Government's concerns about health and about safety on the roads it should be considering a move to compromise the safety of life at sea.
I urge the Minister to reconsider. - Yours, etc.,
PAUL BREIVIK,
Radio Officer, MRCC Dublin,
Balbriggan,
Co Dublin.