Maritime Institute of Ireland

News Letter

Summer 2009

All we seem to think about, talk about, work about is Money!

That is not to say that we are not very active in other areas. The programme of lectures continues, organised by the committee chaired by Barney Yourell. There was a very successful visit to Belfast to commemorate those of the Merchant Navy that have died at sea. A moving Ecumenical Service was held in St George's Church, Belfast and a get together was held in the Merchant seaman's club with refreshments and sandwiches provided. We have also been represented at commemoration services in Cork and the National Day of Commemoration Ceremony in the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham on Sunday 12^th July.

The Museum Team is planning for the partial opening of the Museum, maybe in 2010, subject to the completion of phase 3. (Money). The cataloguing of the collection continues, matching text to photographs.

Plans are being developed for the ground floor display. The Museum team has acquired the use of an empty shop in the Dún Laoghaire Shopping Centre and set up a most impressive display. The art work was designed by Mella O’Brolchain, the talented daughter of our committee member Padraic O'Brolchain.

John Moore arranged this facility with the management of the Shopping Centre.

The display has attracted a lot of interest and is designed so that forthcoming events can be advertised and the display changed.

The Ad Hoc fund raising committee has organised a number of successful fund raising events this Spring and Summer The events have included a Jazz and Wine Tasting night (Supported by Mitchel's of Glasthule).

In May we held a Race Night which was profitable for the Bookies, that is, us. It was held in the Bakers Corner Pub and organised by Michael Leonard. We shall be out with our collecting boxes again this year on Saturday and Sunday the 29^th and 30^th August in conjunction with the Dún Laoghaire Festival of Arts and Culture.

Volunteers are urgently required. We have done very well in the past but always there is the necessity for more collectors. Contact Breasal O’Caoillai at 086 0755402 or at Costello Jewellers, Northumberland Avenue, Dún Laoghaire.

Donations: We have received a number of generous donations of models and artifacts, including a model of a ferry serving the Scottish Islands from the Reverend John Crawford, formerly of the Parish of St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin 1. His father had built most of it and it was later completed by the Reverend John Crawford. We have also been promised the optic from the lighthouse at the end of Dún Laoghaire pier. We hope to take delivery when the scaffolding is removed.

We also received a donation of 17 boxes of papers from President Emeritus, Desmond Branigan which will prove very valuable to research students in the future. We have been promised funding from the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company for stained glass windows to be installed in the St. Columba's Chapel which is to be redesigned. We plan to re dedicate the chapel to all those that have died at sea in war and peace time. We expect to receive designs within the next number of weeks.

We have received a fascinating collection of prints and photographs from Dr. Naill L. Webb which he had collected over the years and displayed in his waiting room and surgery. Having recently retired he has donated the entire collection to the Maritime Institute.

The finance Committee has been working very hard to raise money from Intereg, Failte Ireland and the lottery. As much of this finance depends on match funding it is very important to raise as much money as possible from other sources.

DRAFT- TIMETABLE FOR RE-OPENING OF MARINERS CHURCH / MARITIME MUSEUM.

2006 - Purchase of the freehold of Mariners Church & lands by Maritime Institute of Ireland. Work then commenced on the restoration of the building. To date €3.4million has been spent on the building mainly with Government funds provided through OPW.

Phase 1. Work included- restoration of the roof, windows, stone pointing to exterior,

Phase 2. included all interior plaster work replaced and painted, wood sanded, repaired and varnished including removal of dry rot. The side wall to the lane has been re-capped and re-plastered. Building work up to painting of walls and installation of lighting system is expected to be complete in the Autumn of 2009. The plaster work had to be replaced completely and has been slow to dry out, hence the delay in painting. This has been essential work to preserve the fabric of the building and should be completed by the end of 2009, depending on funds available.

Phase 3. Summer - Communication is expected from the OPW regarding further funding which will make it possible to re-open the ground floor area. While we have received letters of encouragement we have not received any money. This will include heating using heat exchangers, an efficient method of heating a large area; wheel chair access to the new entrance and the toilets; re-models the old library to form a reception area. Redesign the St. Columba Chapel and create new displays. We will have very little money left for new display cabinets. We would also like to provide Visual Display Units.

Taking into consideration the present economic problems we have applied for only €350,000. We plan that this phase will be completed in mid 2010, the following additional work will be included.

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has agreed to sponsor new stained glass windows in the St. Columba's Chapel. Develop the story line to be told in the reopened museum. The story is to be developed in conjunction with the Museum Team and Tim Carey, Heritage Officer of DLR County Council -who are providing the finance required for the story line.

Meet with the Heritage Council and discuss the best approach towards achieving the highest standards for the museum of which the Mariners Church building is an integral part. It is important that we appoint a paid manager/curator for the Museum. This discussion is to include all aspects of achieving the highest standards

including staff training etc. The Museum Team will be included in these discussions.

It is recognised that when the Museum re-opens (even partially) that we will be proud of what we achieve. It is recognised that extensive damage may be caused to the museum's reputation if it is re-opened prematurely. We are engaged in discussions with Dr. Hugh Maguire of the Heritage Council regarding the future professional staffing of the Museum. There is merit in appointing a member of the Museum Team as there are many of them have an unrivaled knowledge of the Museum, it’s contents and traditions. Specialist training in management and curatorial skills would be required and of course funding would have to be in place. There are a number of sources of funding, which are being explored at this time. The position might have to be advertised and a selection process conducted. Restructuring of the existing organisation at all levels will be necessary.

Summer 09 - prepare submission for INTREGREG (EU) funding - submission date depends on which programme selected. Probable dead-line for application is September 09. The project will include the provision of staff, marketing. Match funding will be required.

FÁILTE Ireland- follow up initial discussion on developing a working relationship and finalising a marketing image and plan.

County Development Team - follow up discussions on financial aid for employing staff and other grant assistance. An application for funds from the National Lottery to be submitted.

Marketing and advertising campaign to be planned.

FURTHER FUNDING:

A presentation should be made to Government for continued capital funding on an annual basis.

JUNE 2010- The building completed for the present and builders off site. The areas immediately available will be limited and will NOT include the basement, cash earning outdoor restaurant and viewing tower - these will have to be part of a later phase and will be subject to continuing funding. A coffee/refreshment point could be provided within the Museum.

The designated staff to take up their positions.

At this stage the following to be put in place: Museum exhibits, Retail shop, Coffee shop.

August 2010 - finalise marketing/advertising campaign.

Autumn 2010 - book marketing and advertising campaign. Set exact date for official re-opening.

FOLLOWING RE-OPENING; follow up on development of basement, gallery, outdoor restaurant, viewing tower, etc.

The AGM of the Maritime Institute of Ireland Will take place at 12.00 noon sharp Saturday 12^th September 2009 at the Kingston Hotel. See enclosed Agenda and Forms. Please make certain that you are a paid up member as only such members will be entitled to attend and vote. N.B. There are a number of Sub Committees with interesting and challenging Projects. We urgently need new volunteers. A full list of the Sub Committees is enclosed. Please contact Breasal O’Caollai at 086 0745402 or costellojewellers@eircom.net Sub Committees are appointed at the first Executive Meeting after the AGM.

FORTH COMING EVENTS:

Collection Days Saturday 29^th & Sunday 30^th August 2009 at the Dún Laoghaire Festival of World Culture. We are in urgent need of NEW collectors. Please contact Breasal O’Caollai (0860745402 or costellojewellers@ eircom.net) for details of the arrangements. Tea shirts with the Institute logo, collecting boxes and stickers will be provided. We need collectors each day from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm in two shifts. We have a faithful band of collectors but their feet are collapsing and we need new volunteers.

Autumn Lectures

All the lectures will be held at 8.00 pm in the Stella Maris beside Bus Aras, Dublin 1.

Thursday 17^th September Exhibition and talk on Model Boat Making by Garry Mooney and Richard Faulkner

Thursday 15^th October 2009. From the Basin to Carlingford Bar Sean Patterson from Newrey

Thursday 19^th November The Roman Wrecks at Lake Nemin Cormack Lowth

Autumn Fund Raising Events

September Choir Concert - details on the Web site

October - Table Quiz

November - Jazz Concert

December - Traditional songs by the outstanding Youth Choir “Enchiriadis” at Christ Church Park Road, Dún Laoghaire.

The Annual National Commemoration Services For Irish Seafarers to be held at 11.30 am on Sunday 23rd Nov. 2008 Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, City Quay, D. 2. Wreaths will be laid at the Irish Seaman's National Memorial, City Quay, after Mass. Church of Ireland Service: at 3.15 pm
St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Patrick's Close, Dublin 8

ARKLOW LAUNCH NEW SHIP

Arklow Shipping Ltd latest vessel took to the water in South Korea on 9 May 2009. Named ARKLOW MANOR first of six such 14,400 tonnes deadweight bulk carriers. Fitted with four holds and hatches and propelled by a 6 cylinder MAK diesel motor developing 5,400 KW giving a speed of 14.5 knots. She is a gearless ship without cranes or derricks for loading or discharging cargoes. She is expected to be delivered in August. The next of this class should be launched before the end of the year. There are also four 4,500 DW ships being built in Bilbao, Spain, with delivery of the first of these in June 2010

The County Wicklow ship owning company is trading in the difficult economic conditions of today similar to all shipping companies. Because of this, vessels have had to anchor for some days awaiting their next cargo, although none have been laid up. Indeed many ship owners are putting brand new vessels into lay up immediately after launching. The waters of ports such as Singapore, Rotterdam and Hamburg are full of vessels awaiting orders. With the Asian port having the largest number of ships laid up.

A NEW FERRY ON THE SUIR

News of a replacement river ferry vessel on the River Suir between, Co. Kilkenny and Co. Waterford has just reached the Newsletter. Operated by the Passage East Ferry Co. Ltd. The ship now named FDB TINTERN entered service in 2005 is 54.8 meters in length with a gross tonnage 236 and a capacity for 130 passengers and 30 cars. The vessel was built in 1971 at Oberwinter/Rhein Germany as the STADT LINZ for service on the Rhine. In 1990 she was sold for service on the River Weser from Lemwerder to Vegsack and took the name VESESACK, where she remained until 2003. In 2004 she was renamed STEDINGEN and sold to Schraven BV in the Netherlands, where she underwent a major refurbishment. In the autumn of 2005 she was sold to the Passage East Ferry Company and took her present name. In December of that year she entered service replacing the EDMUND D, which was built in 1968 by Philip & Sons Dartmouth as the SHANNON HEATHER running between Kilrush and Tarbet before coming to Co. Waterford. The Shannon Heather was later scrapped up river.

THE WSS ANCHORS IN COBH

The World Ship Society organisation dropped anchor in Co. Cork with the formation of a branch at Cobh in 2007. The new branch has been active, in arranging a range of activities including a visit to Poland and Sweden, where they were guests at the Swedish Naval base in Karlskrona.

In March of this year the Chairman of the WSS Dr. Richard Osbourne, delivered a presentation on

Armed Merchant Cruisers and Q ships, which took place in the wardroom at Haulbowline, a most apt location considering the fitting out of Q ships by Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly in Queenstown in 1916.

The President Eoghan Ganly e mailed the Institute's best wishes to the branch at their 2009 AGM held in the Watersedge Hotel in June. For details of lectures contact the secretary Comdt. Eoghan Allen Tel: 021-811563. Email eoghan@seafieldcobh.com

CORK SWANSEA IN 2010

Despite the great publicity in February March and April of this year and reports in the Southern media of well attended meetings held in Cork to raise money to purchase a share in a Baltic ro/ro vessel, so as to re launch the Cork Swansea ferry link this year. But all came to a stop in May.

Everything seemed to be on course, with the promoters seeking 3 million euros to obtain a stake in the ship. They received pledges of 2.9 million with an actual 2.3 million in the bank. However, while they had bought the ship, the deal had to be sealed by the Finnish courts. Because this process was taking a long time, it was decided to postpone the service until March 2010.

The ship which has been bought is the JULIA 21,699 tons gross, built at Bremerhaven, Germany with a speed of 21 knots. Constructed as the OLAU BRITANNIA one of two sisters for the Olau Line of Germany for their new ferry service between Sheerness (England) and Vlissigen (Holland). Both ships were replaced in 1989/90 by vessels twice the tonnage because of the growth in traffic. She became the BAYARD of Fred Olsen Line of Norway in 1990. In 1991 she was resold to Color Line Marine within Norway and became the CHRISTIAN IV. She remained with these owners until 2007, when she was due to be replaced by a new building. That ship was delayed and she only came out of service last year. She was sold to Russian interests to operate between Helsinki and St. Petersburg as the JULIA, however the line failed.

It is very sad to recall that the very successful Olau Line was closed by the owners in the 1990s because of the actions of the onboard German unions. Which in the owner's view this made the vessels impossible to operate.

Fasnet Line the new company is seeking a chief executive to develop the operation and raise a further 1.5 million euro capital. They hope to have the ship by the end of August to as to carry out alterations to comply with Irish regulations. The Port of Cork and Associated British Ports which controls Swansea have both promised incentives to the resumed route.

Rowing Life Boat, Dún Laoghaire
Dr. N. Webb collection

COBH MUSEUM EXHIBITION

The Flag Officer of the Naval Service Commodore Frank Lynch officially opened the PULL TOGETHER exhibition at the Cobh Museum, in the Co. Cork historic maritime town on the evening of Saturday 16 May 2009. Situated in the former Scots Presbyterian church on the High Road above the station, it recalls the United States Navy participation in the Great War between 1917 and 1918 when 47 destroyers, 30 submarine chasers, 3 repair ships, 7 submarines and one Q ship were based in Queenstown under the overall command of Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, RN, C in C Ireland.

The display includes photographs from the American Naval Historical Foundation in Washington DC, which were sourced through the Maritime Institute. Two very interesting items, a US naval ratings full dress blues of the time and a plate from the USS AMERICA a US naval transport, an ex German liner taken over in August 1917. Both these on loan through the good offices of the US Embassy in Dublin.

This naval exhibition is the first to be mounted on WW1 naval operations in Cobh since the foundation of the State in 1922. The US Embassy was represented by Mr. Robert Faucher Charge d'Affairs and the Defence & Air Attaché Lt. Col Shaun Purvis USAF.

Commodore Lynch said that when navy men go to sea in war they have two foes, the enemy and the sea itself. Sometimes they have to join together to resist Mother Nature. Cllr Norin Doyle Deputy Mayor of Cobh and Mr. Faucher also spoke. The Institute was represented by Pat Sweeney.

Commodore Frank Lynch (left) opening the Cobh Exhibition with Mr Faucher US Embassy and Cllr. Noirin Doyle. - Photo: Pat Sweeney

FIRST RUSSIAN IN IRELAND

The first Russian or USSR warship to visit the Republic since the State was founded docked in Dublin on Friday 3 July 2009. The SEVEROMORSK a guided missile destroyer 6930 tonnes built 1986 at Kallingrad, armed with anti ship and anti aircraft missiles, 2 helicopters. A crew of 230 and a speed of 33 knots. A unit of the Northern Fleet, she returned to her base, and is en route to Somalia on anti-piracy patrol.

BOOK REVIEWS SUMMER 2009

The history of Ballycotton Lifeboat Station Co. Cork was launched by RTE presenter and personality Derek Davis in the town in early July.

The joint authors are Nicholas Leech Deputy Editor of the well known British shipping magazine Ships Monthly and Brendan O'Driscoll of Youghal, who did all the local research and sourced old photographs Brendan is a member of the crew of the Youghal lifeboat and wrote the history of the Youghal lifeboat station in 1999.

Ballycotton lifeboat station is one of the most famous in Ireland. Established in 1858, the station has a long and proud history of rescuing those in peril off the coast of County Cork. The first lifeboat was powered by oars and sail, launched from a carriage and kept in a house between Egan's shop and Duffin's. Following this first un-named lifeboat a number of pulling lifeboats were operated until September 1930 when the first motor lifeboat, Mary Stanford, was sent to the station. The twin-engine lifeboat greatly improved the capability of the station. She was involved in the outstanding event in the station's history, in 1936 when the Gold Medal was awarded to Coxswain Patrick Sliney, and Silver and Bronze Medals to his crew, for the service on 11^th February to the Daunt Rock light vessel. The lifeboat did not return to her station for three days and was on service for 63 hours, during which time her crew had only three hours sleep. For 25 hours they had no food and all came back suffering from colds and salt water burns. The casualty's crew of eight were rescued after the lifeboat went alongside the plunging vessel, with seas sweeping over her, more than a dozen times. This was one of the most exhausting and gallant services in the history of the RNLI.

With such a rich and interesting history this volume, gives a complete account of the station, from the early days to the present and its Trent class lifeboat, covers much ground and will have a general appeal. For people wishing to buy the book contact Bláthnaid Lane Walsh,
3 Beachview Heights, Ballycotton, Co. Cork.
email: ballycottonrnli14@eircom.net phone: 087 4151475.

The Mary B. Stanford - can she be saved?
The famous life boat that saved so many lives, now rotting in the Grand Canal Docks, Dublin.

The Secret Victory by Liam and John Nolan.

The Mercier Press, Cork 2009. €19.99.

This book, written by two sons of Cobh, tells the story of the anti submarine struggle waged from the Co. Cork port during World War 1 with particular reference to the presence of the United States Navy between 1917 and 1918. This is the first book from an Irish perspective, since Danger Zone (The Queenstown Command) written by the prolific naval writer of that era Lieut. E. Kebble Chatterton, RNVR in 1934. The book reveals a hitherto unknown fact that the US Consul at Queenstown Mr. Wesley Frost was removed from his post shortly after the arrival of the first destroyers in May 1917. The work has two faults, there are no photographs and no substantial reference to the operations of the US Naval Air Service flying boat bases. Nevertheless a most interesting book.

Pat Sweeney.

Did you Know? Published by Dún Laoghaire County Council and An Taisce, with a forward by Tim Carey, Heritage Officer, Dún Laoghaire Co. Council.

If ever a County Dublin version of the popular game “Trivial Persuit” is developed the study of this book will be invaluable! The book is compiled from two exhibitions that were held in Dún Laoghaire County Hall in 2007 and 2008. While the entire county is covered there is a substantial section devoted to the coastal area.

Many fascinating questions are answered and accompanied by excellent photographs.

For Example did you know that:

• Dalkey was once Dublin’s main port?
• There are bits of Scotland on Killiney Beach?
• There was a lead mine under Killiney Hill?
• Dalkey Island is one of the best places to view Terns?
• On Christmas Eve every year members of the Royal National Life boat institute put a wreath into the waters outside Dún Laoghaire harbour to commemorate an 1895 Life Boat disaster.

We liked this book very much.

The book is available through book shops and from Dún Laoghaire County Council.

Eoghan Ganly