New Directorate to oversee marine safety

A new body is being established by the Government to co-ordinate all aspects of safety at sea.

The Maritime Safety Directorate is being formed after an in-depth review of the current Marine Safety services.

The new body will tie together all the Department’s current divisions dealing with safety at sea.

It will also establish a board to investigate casualties at sea, enhance the Marine Helicopter Service, and complete a study in the future of the Irish Coastguard.

The body will also look at protecting the marine environment from pollution, including the drawing up of local response plans for ports and harbours.

Heading the new body will be Maurice Mullen - a Dublin man with vast experience in the civil service and with Water Safety Associations.

Minister for the Marine, Frank Fahey says the directorate will create better links between all the safety organisations, and play a key part in the overall aim of preventing loss of life at sea.