THE European Commissioner for Fisheries, Ms Emma Bonino, has indicated that Europe will look favourably on a request for funding to improve the safety of the Irish fishing fleet.
Mr Pat The Cope" Gallagher MEP, vice chairman of the Fisheries Committee, said Ms Bonino told him yesterday the Commission had never rejected a proposal where safety was concerned. He said the Directorate General has agreed to meet him to discuss the options.
The 63 recommendations in the report of the Fishing Vessel Safety Review Group will cost around £10 million to implement, according to the Minister for the Marine, Mr Barrett.
According to the report, life rafts on almost three quarters of the fishing vessels surveyed by the safety group would sink with the ship in a sudden accident. And more than a fifth of the medium sized vessels surveyed do not carry life rafts.
The survey of 150 Irish vessels, around 10 per cent of the fleet, during February and March formed the basis for the 63 recommendations in the report of the Fishing Vessel Safety Review Group. Seventy four per cent of the vessels did not have "float free" life rafts, so in a sudden sinking a vessel would carry its rafts down as it sank.
Overall, more than 60 per cent of the vessels were found to have serious deficiencies. The report said that between 1990 and the end of last month there were 48 accidents involving fishing vessels, with 32 deaths. Twenty five of these accidents have been investigated.
The group said the regulations should apply to all vessels built after June 1st, 1997, and a "pragmatic approach" should be adopted by the Department in applying them to existing vessels.
The maximum level of grant aid for vessels being upgraded for safety should be increased from 30 to 50 per cent, made up of 45 per cent EU grants and 5 per cent State grants.
Vessels' safety equipment should be inspected regularly and they should carry emergency position indicating radio beabons. The Department should also consider stipulating that vessels operating outside the immediate sea area carry satellite communications.
According to the report, the Minister for the Marine should implement regulations on mandatory training for all crew members.
The report recommends crew be certified and required to pass a medical fitness test. Accidents or incidents should be notified to the Minister.
Extra inspection staff should be provided to allow the regulations to be enforced and part of this workload could be contracted outside the Civil Service.
