Clarification over 'Asgard II' sought

A FORMER master of the Asgard IIhas called on Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea to raise the sail training ship from the seabed or invite tenders for its replacement.

Capt Gerry Burns, spokesman for a public campaign and petition over the vessel's future, has appealed to Mr O'Dea "to set out exactly how Asgard IIwill be replaced, if in fact he has decided that it should not be salvaged".

Mr O’Dea has so far made no decision on a recommendation by Coiste an Asgard, the ship’s management committee, to leave the hull where it is and build a steel replacement.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív told The Irish Times that he understood Mr O’Dea was to decide “shortly”.

However, no decision was taken on raising the hull before winter and a second survey could not deploy a remotely operated vehicle to take images due to bad weather.

Mounting criticism of the delays led to an online petition by watersports magazine Afloat.ie, which has attracted more than 1,000 signatures and several thousand hits in several weeks. The petition, which the campaign is circulating at the Dublin Boat Show at Dublin’s RDS until February 22nd, calls for the ship’s salvage or a commitment from Government to build a replacement.

"Over 10,000 people sailed on Asgard IIover the last quarter century or so, and the benefits it has brought to that large group are immeasurable," Capt Burns said.

"The country as a whole benefited from her presence across hundreds of ports around the world, providing positive and cost-effective exposure for our island nation. Asgard IImust be replaced if it can't be raised," he said.

Coiste an Asgard has said it is committed to maintaining the national sail training programme.