Navy searches rose by 150% in 2002

THE number of missing persons missions undertaken by Navy divers last year increased by 150%, the latest annual figures reveal.

Navy assistance was requested in the search for 18 people missing at sea and in coastal waterways during 2002. In addition Navy vessels were called to assist in 19 search and rescue missions.

“It is one cause for considerable concern that such an increase in the number of such operations should have been recorded and it is an unfortunate consequence of changes in society rather than anything to do with the Navy,” said Lieutenant Commander Martin Brett.

He said 15 missing searches had been requested by gardaí during the year and a further three by the Coast Guard authorities.

While the number of vessels boarded increased last year, the number of vessels detained by the Navy decreased. “That’s a positive sign as far as we are concerned because it shows that our presence has resulted in fewer crimes being committed,” said Lieutenant Commander Brett.

Overall, boardings of fishing vessels by the Irish Naval Service increased by 25% while sightings by naval patrol vessels increased by 18%. The Navy’s operational profile and statistics for 2002 also show that naval patrol vessels sighted 2814 vessels fishing in Irish waters. Of those, 16 fishing vessels were detained and 113 written warnings issued for various offences.

In addition the Navy assisted the Central Fisheries Board in monitoring the Salmon Fishery during June and July during which a total of 74 salmon fishery boardings were carried out.

The Navy also operates the National Fisheries Monitoring Centre which at any one time monitors satellite data of up to 350 fishing vessels.

Last year, the centre’s staff dealt with over 22,593 Effort and Catch reports from foreign fishing vessels entering Irish waters. This year the centre will monitor closely the developments related to the Irish Box and provide statistical information to assist in policy formulation.

Lieutenant Commander Brett said that, not withstanding the incidents involving the recovery of dead bodies, it had been a positive year for the naval service. “2002 was quite a positive year for the Navy across the board and we would hope to build on that in the coming year,” he said.

He said that like all other State bodies the Navy was subject to cutbacks, however he confirmed that the number of hours spent at sea by Navy vessels would increase this year. “We will feel the pinch like everyone else but we will hopefully take it up in tighter budgetary controls,” he said.

Last year as part of the Government’s Asia Pacific Strategy, the naval service also undertook a major deployment to Asia Acting as an instrument of diplomacy the ship hosted over 60 events with almost 10,500 visitors of which 2,500 were key decision makers.

In the course of the deployment the LE NIAMH also carried out a resupply mission to Irish Troops serving with the UN in Eritrea and Ethiopia.