THE DEPARTMENT of Transport has denied it is “blocking” use in Ireland of a man overboard safety system developed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
The MOB (man overboard) Guardian emergency system is designed to provide satellite cover for vessels and individual crew members. The system emits hourly reports – deemed by fishermen to be more advantageous than public monitoring systems – and this ensures there is an emergency alert if a vessel is overdue.
Crew workers on deck can also wear personal safety devices that give their precise position.
Some 450 fishing vessels fitted with the system in Britain have benefited from subsidy supports.
However, Irish fishermen seeking grants to install the system have been told they do not qualify as the department’s marine surveyors’ office has not given MOB Guardian formal approval. Nor can they purchase it and fit it themselves without subsidies, as it requires a relay system to receive alerts here.
Alerts can be transmitted to the RNLI headquarters in Poole, Dorset, but it is understood the Irish Coast Guard is not happy with this arrangement due to potential delays in relaying alerts.
The department says there is a full and comprehensive safety regime for all vessels, requiring carriage of appropriate radio equipment including emergency radio beacons to indicate position and automatic identification systems. It had “no difficulty in principle” to “voluntary carriage” of other devices.
However, it said even modest safety equipment has been missing in recent incidents, and fishermen should spend “scarce resources” on required statutory equipment first.
The RNLI said setting up the infrastructure to support MOB Guardian in the Republic is more complicated than in Britain.
“Over the last few years the RNLI has met individually with all the relevant agencies in Ireland that would need to support MOB Guardian, and they all agree the kit is technically capable and would offer fishermen an extra layer of safety,” it said. It acknowledged that if a system to receive alerts was not set up here, alerts must be relayed from Britain.
