The world's largest fishing vessel, the £50 million Atlantic Dawn, docked in Dublin port yesterday, and the port's tug let loose its firehoses in celebration.
The ship was built in Norway for Mr Kevin McHugh of Killybegs, Co Donegal, and its processing capacity of 7,000 tonnes of fish makes it the world's largest of its type.
The Atlantic Dawn will fish off Mauritania in west Africa, under a licence prohibiting it from fishing in European waters.
Among the 60 crew will be six Mauritanians and observers. The dual-purpose vessel will fish for horse mackerel, mackerel, sardinella, sardines and anchovies, to sell back into the west African market. Mauritania is 70 per cent dependent on fisheries, but it is dependent on canoes.
Mauritania has contracted out its waters to EU vessels as a source of income. Although environmental groups have criticised these EU third-country arrangements, Mr McHugh has stressed that the ship will catch top quality fish for developing countries at the lowest possible price, rather than use industrial fishing.
The McHugh family was out in force to greet the 144.6-metre ship in Dublin yesterday, along with the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey, Fianna Fail MEP Mr Pat "The Cope" Gallagher and Fine Gael's marine spokesman, Mr Paul Connaughton.
Mr Joey Murrin of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation said the ship's economic impact would be positive, particularly in its home port of Killybegs. The ship will complement the 348-ft Veronica, Ireland's only other processor/ trawler, which is also owned by Mr McHugh's company.
Mr Fahey said he was very proud, and particularly pleased that Irish banks, principally Bank of Ireland, had given it the necessary support.
Originally from Bullsmouth, Achill, Mr McHugh is the son of an electrician and was one of a generation of young fishermen encouraged by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. He bought his first boat, the 65-ft Wavecrest, when he was 21, and paid £1.2 million for his first steel vessel, the Albacore, almost 25 years ago.
Mr McHugh told The Irish Times he intended to skipper the vessel himself until it was running smoothly. The Atlantic Dawn will arrive in Killybegs this evening and will be blessed at a special reception tomorrow. It will leave for Las Palmas next week.
The owner/skipper's mother, Mrs Nora McHugh (87), said she had been determined to greet the ship, as she had been in hospital recovering from a broken leg when the Veronica arrived. She had broken her leg in a game of football but she was still playing the game, she added.
