Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
MEMBERS OF A Trust set up to preserve a historical CIÉ ferry are up in arms after the Government convened a meeting on the scrapping of the vessel — and didn’t invite them.
A local TD says he’s also “disappointed” at being excluded from the meeting, and has called on Arts & Heritage Minister to explain why those campaigning for the ship’s restoration weren’t involved in the decision making process.
Ship
Built in the Liffey dockyards in the 1950s, the Naomh Éanna has been moored at Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock since 1989. Various businesses have operated out of the ship in the last 25 years — however, it was announced last year that the former ferry would have to be scrapped, after safety concerns were raised in a hull inspection.
The Naomh Éanna Trust had called for a 16-week postponement of that order, so that plans for a proper refurbishment of the ship could be organised. Sam Field Corbett — who manages the company that restored Liffey landmark the MV Cill Áirne — said he could arrange for a similar scheme to be carried out on the Naomh Éanna, without any need for public funding.
Ministerial promise
The prospect of a renewed effort to resolve the issue arose last week — after a cross-party group of TDs called for a meeting of stakeholders to be convened to consider delaying the scrapping.
Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd, replying to their Dáil question on behalf of the Minister for the the Environment, said he would express the deputies’ concerns to Phil Hogan immediately “and seek a meeting with the accountable bodies”.
[Oireachtas.ie]
Members of the Trust assumed this would mean at least a short reprieve for the Naomh Éanna as that meeting was arranged, and anticipated that they would be asked to send a representative to that meeting. However, on Wednesday the ship was taken from its berth and transported a short distance away to the NAMA-controlled ‘Graving Docks’.
It later emerged that a meeting to decide the ship’s fate had in fact gone ahead, but that the preservation group hadn’t been invited. The only “relevant bodies” listed at the meeting were Waterways Ireland (which manages the Grand Canal Dock) along with NAMA and the Health and Safety Authority.
“They said they’d call a meeting of the interested parties, but then only invited people who were interested in chopping it up,” Field Corbett told TheJournal.ie.
Field Corbett and members of the Trust have raised questions as to why the effort to have the ship scrapped appears to have been arranged so hastily. As it was moved, the 60 year old vessel became snagged in the entrance to the Graving Docks, and part of the concrete structure had to be removed to accommodate her.
“It seems odd they didn’t even measure the ship and the entrance in advance,” Field Corbett said.
[Naomh Éanna Trust]
The postponement of the ship’s scrapping was initially requested so that Field Corbett’s firm — the Irish Ship & Barge Fabrication Company — could put together a business plan to attract private investment.
His plan proposed that the restoration of the vessel could form the seed of a maritime quarter for the city. The Cill Áirne, which his company also restored, is now run as a successful restaurant and bar and sits on the north bank of the Liffey, by the IFSC.
Both the Naomh Éanna Trust and enthusiasts’ group the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland had supported the businessman’s plan.
Ownership
A dispute has also arisen between a member of the Naomh Éanna Trust and Waterways Ireland over ownership of the vessel. Stephen Payne — a captain with P&O Ferries — claims he is the official owner of the ship, and provided a raft of official documentation backing up his claim to TheJournal.ie, including this Revenue cert:
[Click here to see a larger version of this image, via Stephen Payne]
However, according to Waterways Ireland:
Waterways Ireland had been contacted by Stephen Payne who asserted ownership of the Naomh Éanna but has consistently been unable to provide documentation showing ownership.
CIE are still the registered owner of the Naomh Éanna. Waterways Ireland is happy that the transaction history of the Naomh Éanna from CIE to the Irish Nautical Trust is complete.
A clerical officer at the Department of Transport’s Mercantile Marine Office also confirmed that CIE were still listed as the registered owners.
Payne, however, is adamant that his documents prove ownership, and has speculated that Waterways Ireland are attempting to have the ship scrapped before this can be properly established.
Minister
Labour TD Kevin Humphreys, who had publicly backed the plan to have the vessel restored, said he was disappointed not to be asked to this week’s meeting.
“I’ve contacted Minister Deenihan’s office about this, but haven’t heard back so far,” Humphreys said.
“We were asking for only a short reprieve so this business plan can be put together, and the organisers of the project were very optimistic it could be done. We weren’t asking for a cent of public money.
The groups campaigning for the ship to be preserved say it’s still not too late for the 16 week reprieve to be granted. Work to dismantle the vessel hasn’t yet begun — it’s being inspected, and stripped of asbestos at the moment, before the heavy-duty equipment is moved in.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Another example of ‘transparency’ in public affairs…
Another example of “we are keen to listen to all stakeholders but in fact plan to ignore you” government.
One thing is for sure this is going to cost the taxpayer, I don’t know how but it will.
How?
Like I said I’m not sure yet, but every time this kind of thing happens we foot the bill.
I’ll have to find those smiley face thingys.
Once phil hogans name is mentioned, that explains everything
Ross
Instead of displaying your ignorance and at the same time tossing gratuitous insults at a Government Minister you might ask yourself as to why the Constitution would give such responsibility to the Minister for the Environment. Could I also add that this lump of nondescript waste metal together with a size able amount of toxic materials has been blighting our inner City Harbour for a number of years like a crashed car in a front garden in Ballsbridge…..classy!
Richard Rodgers, the Constitution was written by our founding fathers to protect their wealth from the peasants of Ireland. Don’t forget that this state was founded by a group of very wealthy people who ponced around the place while millions of citizens lived in abject poverty.
This story doesn’t float my boat :) save the ship FFS
As scrap steel the old girl is worth about E20000. Im not sure as to what the cost would be for a restoration but a lot of benefit could be got from training up people with skills such as welding electrics woodwork and engineering. The ship does have a place in Irish heritage as it was one of the last ships built in Dublin by Liffey Dockyard. But its true links are with the Aran Islands. For many many years it was the means of getting to and from the islands for both passengers and freight. Many islanders were waved off at the harbour as they boarded this ship to go seek their fortunes elsewhere in the world. I therefore feel that the ship is worth saving but even as a Dub myself I feel that its proper home should be in Galway or Inishmore its true home port for all its time in service. Maybe even part of an Aran Island museum.
I agree. Practical feasible thinking warranted here. Touche Mr. Curry.
Who owns it then?
Someone is getting paid for this, that amount of metal is a sizeable nest egg, why was NAMA at the meeting and who drafted the contract with the company to remove the asbestos?
If the consortium wants it, sell it to them for the cost of scrappage less metal. Then charge them berthing and rates, we’ll be quids in then.
Someone’s got their fingers in the till here again and that cabal in power are trying to sweep this under the carpet in my opinion.
A sizable headache more like considering that it has just cost Belfast City Council 6.5m sterling for the restoration of the SS Nomadic.
If they want to save it, let them. Why not?
So the trust weren’t doing anything with the ship until the scrap order was issued, then they wanted to save it :-/ The only thing the trust do is paint half of it! Yes half, one half facing apartments is painted the remainder of the ship is left to disintegrate.
For cie scrap is more valuable so they scrap everything. Everything. History and preservation mean nothing to them. Where is our transport museum?
The same faith was going to happen to “The Mary Stanford” which was tied beside the Naomh Éanna. She is one of the most historic lifeboats with a gold medal for bravery to her name. A group from Ballycotton took it upon themselves to save her. They have raised enough money now to lift her out of the Grand Canal. They are now Fund Raising to restore her. Waterways Ireland and The Nautical Trust have been very helpful with this project.
Check out http://themarystanford.com for info on her.
Her proposed restoration would be a boon to the city and the local area. I sincerely hope her scrapping can be halted and she can be saved as a vibrant going concern.
When does something become “historical”?
As soon as we vote them out of government!
ah well its government policy scrap the past just look at moore street lets get rid of the risig buildigs untill people objected . this boat is irish and unique .many islanders said goodbye on this ship and many references are made to it in writings and plays from galway
Obviously the vessel is no longer certified as sea worthy and the cost of refitting would be enormous. Why didn’t they ofer it up for auction before deciding to scrap it perhaps someone else can find a use for it..
Scrap it and be done with it! Bloody restoration freaks would stop any old rubbish being thrown out! All they are is hoarders who are terrified of change and progress!
This is a perfect example of not paying any attention to idiots
Destruction of another historical asset ,it would not happen anywhere else
Fight the blighters…. To the end…
Governments are populated by unimaginative sots who are always looking for an easy way out. Scrapping is easy.
But your better than that.
Don’t be like the American government selling the WW II USCGC Storis for scrapping over the objections of veterans and maritime preservationists..
Your culture is worth defending.
—SWL
have your say