The Mayo News

A fisherman’s organisation has called for careful vigilance after a Shell contracted vessel was grounded at the weekend. Call for marine vigilance as Shell vessel grounded


Áine Ryan

A FISHERMEN’S organisation has called for careful vigilance and protection of the marine environment in light of last weekend’s grounding off Erris Head of a Shell contracted vessel. The 32-metre Flamingo ran up on rocks round 5am on Sunday morning last.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday, Mr Eddie Diver, the Chairman of Erris Inshore Fishermen’s Association (EIFA), observed that it was lucky the damage was small in the case of the Flamingo, which had a crew of five on board at the time.
Mr Diver also revealed that EIFA is still in negotiations with Shell about compensation for fishing gear, towed away ahead of the arrival of the Solitaire during June last.
According to the Irish Coastguard, weather conditions were not severe at the time of Sunday’s accident when – with a west-southwesterly force five wind blowing – the Flamingo  ran up on rocks close to Ooghran Point between Erris Head and Ballyglass. A coastguard spokesman told The Irish Times that a small fuel leakage did not constitute a pollution risk.
Responding to Mayo News questions, Shell confirmed in a statement that ‘at approximately 5am on Sunday morning the Flamingo, a boat on standby duty as part of the Corrib gas offshore pipeline works, was grounded on rocks off Erris Head’.
“A distress signal was sent out and the RNLI lifeboat arrived on the scene within minutes. Other vessels involved in the Corrib project also came to the aid of the stricken boat,” it continued.
It added: “A response team was deployed immediately to deal with a minor spillage. The spillage was quickly contained and has been cleaned up.”
An investigation into the incident is underway by Shell and the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport.
Meanwhile, Eddie Diver said yesterday that EIFA members hope to set up a meeting with Shell in the next week regarding compensation for the missing fishing gear.
“We are still trying to get Shell to compensate the fishermen whose gear was towed away. Shell have admitted that some gear was ‘relocated’ ahead of the arrival of the Solitaire,” said Mr Diver.
He also said that the relevant fishermen were not directly involved in the Corrib gas protest.
Shell confirmed yesterday that it was in ongoing discussions with EIFA about the matter. 
“Discussions have taken place between SEPIL (Shell E&P Ireland) and the Erris Inshore Fishermen’s Association (EIFA) in recent weeks in relation to fishing gear that was moved from the works corridor during the offshore programme,” a spokesman said.
“SEPIL is currently awaiting a response to a letter sent to EIFA on the matter last week and, when this is received, further progress should be possible,” the spokesman continued.

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