State body neglecting its duty over ship, says union

The State body tasked with checking the seaworthiness of vessels entering Irish ports has been accused of neglecting its duty to inspect a ship which docked in Limerick and which was alleged to be unsafe.

The 7,000-ton freighter Pioneer Atlantic docked at the Aughinish Alumina facility in Foynes earlier this week and had been due to leave at daybreak yesterday.

However, the International Transport Workers Federation, in association with Siptu, boarded the vessel on Tuesday night to ensure crew concerns about the safety of the vessel were addressed before it left.