State Papers: Department said it was unable to oversee safety after West Cork ferry tragedy

Vincent Moriarty and his daughter Tracy were among the four people who died aboard the ill-fated ferry which sank on its way from Castletownbere to Bere Island on February 24, 1994. File picture

A Government minister admitted his department’s ability to oversee the safe operation of small passenger boats was “fully stretched” after an unlicensed ferry capsized off the coast of West Cork 30 years ago.

Declassified State papers released by the National Archives show that an urgent review of the operation of all coastal vessels was ordered following the tragedy.

Four of the eight people on board The Blue Ferry died when it capsized on a crossing between Castletownbere and Bere Island, Co Cork, on February 24, 1994.

The normal vessel which operated the route, Misneach, was out of service at the time for an overhaul for renewal of its licence under the Merchant Shipping Act.

Newly-released files show that the minister for defence, David Andrews, wrote in a memo for the Government four days after the fatal accident that the incident had highlighted how additional manpower resources were needed to oversee the safe operation of ferries off the Irish coast. Mr Andrews said: 

The limited resources at the disposal of the Department’s Marine Survey Office to licence and oversee the safe operation of small passenger boats are fully stretched. 

The minister noted that 10 marine surveyors had to cover all aspects of marine safety, including cross-channel ferries, roll-on-roll-off and conventional cargo and container services, as well as small passenger boats of all kinds.

Mr Andrews said the review would examine if additional safety requirements were needed, particularly in relation to the carriage and loading of vehicles and other cargo.

Jan 16, 2024: A picture originally used with this article inadvertently showed a boat belonging to Murphy's Ferry Service Ltd of Bere Island, Cork. This boat and company had no connection to the tragedy on The Blue Ferry in 1994. The image was removed shortly after publication on December 27, and we are happy to clarify the matter.