dún laoghaire harbour company

Dún Laoghaire

Harbour

As a measure of the Stena Line's confidence in the potential of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour to Holyhead route the Swedish shipping giant has committed its new design High Speed Sea Service to operate on the Central Sea Corridor of the Irish Sea from, 1995. "I am pleased to confirm Stena's commitment to the Dún Laoghaire - Holyhead route as evidenced by the extent of the company's investment programme", said Mr. Bo Lerenius, CEO, Stena Line at a special media briefing in Dún Laoghaire. A £130rp investment in the new HSS ferries involved.

Stena announced details of the design of their new high speed ferry capable of carrying 1500 passengers and 375 cars or 50 freight units at a speed of 40 knots, in all weather, from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead - in only 1 hour 30 minutes.

In the interim Stena Sealink have secured, on charter, a wave piercing Catamaran capable of carrying up to 90 cars and 450 passengers over the Irish Sea to Holyhead in only 1 hour 50 minutes. The new 'Stena Sea Lynx' commences operation in mid July and will be replaced in 1994 by the next generation wave piercing catamaran which carries 137 cars and 600 passengers.

A fast turn around in port of 30 minutes is a prerequisite for successful operation of the new service. "This type of development is just the technological advance hoped for when the Board prepared the Development Plan for Dún Laoghaire Harbour", said Mr. Tom Vaughan, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Manager.

"While the outcome of ongoing site investigations indicate no difficulty in dredging to accommodate vessels of up to 1 metre draft and more, the employment of smaller faster vessels offering greater frequency of service would be the preferred option for the development of the Dún Laoghaire ferry terminal", he said. The projected growth in traffic on the Central Corridor could easily be accommodated by the employment of such vessels.

Mr. Phillip Lynch, Group Managing Director, IAWS Group plc and Chairman of CBF, the Meat Marketing Board, has been appointed Chairman of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board. Mr. Lynch has extensive experience of maritime affairs through the group's international shipping and freighting activities and its installations in a number of Irish Ports.

Mr. Lynch brings a practical business approach and knowledge of maritime affairs to the position. He has a record of getting things done.

Also joining the Board is Ms Eithne Scott-Lennon, a Director of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group who will bring the benefits of her business background to the Board.

The Minister for Marine, Mr. David Andrews TD, said that the Board faced a challenging and interesting future. He said that the new appointments reflected his desire to augment the Board's commercial strength and focus.

Mr Andrews paid tribute to the outgoing Chairman, Professor Dermot McAleese, for his immense contribution to the harbour's progress over the the past five years. Professor McAleese has tendered his resignation due to the pressure of other work commitments, particularly since the Harbour is now poised for a more intensive phase of activity.

Another Successful Harbour Regatta

The wet and often inclement weather of May did little to dampen the entertainment and schedule of events during the recent Dún Laoghaire Harbour Regatta Weekend which took place on 29/30 May last, (note: of the year 1993). A wide variety of events attracted significant local interest including a musical extravaganza, free sailing and canoeing lessons, cruising opportunities, maritime exhibitions and lots of competitions with super prizes.

Valuable recreational amenity

"The role that Dún Laoghaire plays in events such as the Dún Laoghaire Festival emphasises the importance as a national public amenity but particularly to the Borough of Dún Laoghaire. This feature is identified in the Development Plan for the Harbour prepared by the board", said Mr Phillip Lynch, Chairman, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board. "It is important, at a time when significant advances are being made in the operation and development of the ferry service, that we are conscious of Dún Laoghaire Harbour's role as a valuable recreational amenity", added the Chairman.

The Harbour is and must remain a place which accommodates a wide variety of users. The objective of the Harbour Development Plan is to make the most of the Harbour's resources and traditions for the benefit of Dún Laoghaire and the nation. The Plan presents a strategy promoting a vision of high quality environment and balanced development of its commercial, public services, marine related industrial activities, recreation and tourist potential.

Mr Lynch confirmed that 'Dún Laoghaire Harbour's potential as an international yachting centre can be achieved in harmony with a successful ferry service'. He stressed that 'an increase in the mooring capacity is long overdue if progress in developing the recreational potential of the harbour is to be achieved'.

Treasure Hunt

Many of the events which proved so popular in the past were repeated including the return of the popular 'Harbour Treasure Hunt'. Mr. Stephen Blake won a return trip to Britain on Stena Sealink Line for 5 people plus their car. Mr Keith Pogue wins a £50 Travel Voucher from Stena Sealink Line and Mr Ronan O'Keeffe a £40 voucher for deSelby's Restaurant (Courtesy of Dún Laoghaire Tourist Accommadation Bureau). Runners up Prizes have been dispatched to Tommy Flynn, M.Woods, Geraldine Ennis, Sinead Hopkins, Cara Fitzgerald, Sarah Cunningham, Niamh Gibbons, Joan Blake, Evelyn O'Neill, Jennifer O'Connell and Richard Blake.

The treasure trove was found by hunting for the following answers:- A source of electricity could be the 'East Pier Battery': There are 13 Lifebuoys on the East Pier which 'may save your life': The Nobel prize was awarded in 1969 to Samual Beckett: The lifeboat launched in the Big Storm 0f 1895: The first Harbour Master of Dún Laoghaire, Capt William Hutchison and the Norwegian Captain believed to be largely responsible for having Dún Laoghaire Harbour built, Richard Toutcher were recently commemorated when two harbour craft were named after them: The weighbridge was the answer to the anagram 'we hid bigger': The motto of the Commissioners of Irish Lights is 'In Salutem Omnium': The 'bird' which lifts off at Traders Wharf is a crane: New concrete has been laid in the Boat Yard: 30 types of bird are displayed at the Maritime Activity Centre formerly the Nautical College: The lightship is secured in the West Bight by chain and there are 30 panes of clear glass in the West Pier lighthouse but no foghorn.

Harbour Regatta

The owners of the following yachts will receive their awards at the Dublin Bay Sailing Club prize giving: Lovely Lady, Acrasia, Saki, Arandora, Glenluce, Jezebelle, Shilelagh, Flamboyant and Tiller Girl.

Have a go

As a reward for sampling the sailing experience at the weekend, Stephen O'Brien and Sean Jennings each won a week's training with the National Sailing School.

Photo Competition

Ms Cait Ui Chinneide won a £70 voucher for the 'Kish Restaurant', Jury's Hotel (Courtesy of Bord Iasciagh Mhara) for her picture 'Big Brass at Dún Laoghaire' and her second entry won a runners up prize!
Congratulations to Mr Stanley Walsh who won a £50 Travel Voucher from Stena Sealink Line and Mr Edward Cummins a £40 voucher for deSelby's Restaurant (Courtesy of Mr J McManus).

Message from Phillip Lynch, Chairman Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board

Since my appointment as Chairman of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board I have come to appreciate the importance of many organisations and other groups to the proper development of Dún Laoghaire Harbour. I would like to assure all that I am most anxious to advance the Development Plan and trust that I can rely on their support in the same way as my predecessor Prof. Dermot McAleese.

The Harbour is, without doubt, poised for a more intensive phase of activity. The nature of the development to be undertaken has been charted by the harbour Development Plan. The next phase of activity involves the implementation of the proposals of the Plan and this will require a greatly intensified level of work on the part of all concerned with the Harbour.

I look forward to our working together in the accomplishment of mutual interests and the execution of the Development Plan for Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

Phillip Lynch

Chairman

Dún Laoghaire Harbour
Ireland's high speed ferry port

The New Stena HSS - High speed Sea Service

Dún Laoghaire Harbour is set to become Ireland's first high speed ferry port following the announcement by Stena Sealink of its plans for 1995. With effect from 16 July Stena Sealink Line have introduced their wave piercing catamaran passenger and car ferry the 'Stena Sea Lynx'. This innovation doubles to sixteen daily the number of ferry sailings in and out of Dún Laoghaire Harbour.

1994 will see yet further advances with the introduction by Stena Sealink and possibly other operators of the next generation of Incat built high speed catamarans capable of carrying 137 cars and 600 passengers across the Irish Sea in only 1 hour 50 mins.

This new catamaran ferry is set to become Europe's most advanced and speediest means of travel at sea and represents the culmination of three years research and development by Stena AB.

The design brief specified that the vessel should be capable of carrying passangers in comfort, cars and freight at a speed of 40 knots with a very fast turn around in port. Stena AB initially tested and checked models of the new vessel to meet the demands of the Central Corridor of the Irish Sea.

"We were very careful to ensure that our new designs could cope more than sufficiently and safely with diverse marine conditions and challenges that the Irish Sea presents all year round. Our tank tests were very demanding", Mr. Stig Bystedt, Technical Director, Stena Rederi, explained to the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board at a recent Board meeting.

Mr Bystedt said that the lik span and the vessel are built together and the new HSS is designed for stern loading only.

"Because of its wide beam, even large freight units can negotiate easily on the vehicle decks. There is a special cetral area for fuelling, water and sewage disposal, specially designed to allow complete servicing of the vessel without interferring with loading or unloading, which will take approximately 20 minutes", said Mr Bystedt.

Thanking Dún Laoghaire Harbour Authorities for their continued co-operation and courtesy in Dún laoghaire, Mr Bystedt paid special tribute to the Harbour's staff for the remarkable speed and efficiency with which the modifications and refurbishment of the ferry terminal and berth on St. Michael's Pier were undertaken to accomodate the Stena Sea Lynx services this summer.

New Era For Ferry Service

Probably the most exciting development since the introduction of the first steam ships to Dún Laoghaire at the beginning of the last century will take place in 1995

Stena Sealink Line will introduce their own design High Speed Vessel. Not only will this innovative vessel carry cars, passengers and freight in extreme comfort but it will cross from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead in only 1 hour 30 minutes - less than half the current journey time onboard a conventional ferry.

The challenge set for Dún Laoghaire Harbour now is to advance the plans for the development of the ferry terminal complex in time to accommodate the new vessel.

"The benefits to tourism and trade to be derived from the introduction of such a high speed service are limited only by the extent of our commercial imagination", said Board Chairman, Mr. Phillip Lynch.

It is of vital importance that the plans for the upgrading of terminal facilities be advanced as a matter of urgency so as to respond to this initiative and be ready to adopt the role of Ireland's premier passenger and high speed ferry port. The necessary design work and funding mechanism must be put in place now in order to achieve the 1995 target dates.

Development Plan for Dún Laoghaire Harbour

Special Charateristics

- attractive gateway for tourists and Irish residents.

- a pleasant recreation centre and amenity for the sailing community, visitors, and the many other users of the harbour waters.

- an important amenity for the enjoyment of those who walk the piers and enjoy the pleasant views.

- a vital facility for miscellaneous users including the public services, anglers, naturalists etc.

Strategy

The Plan's objective is to make the most of the Harbour's resources and traditions for the benefit of Dún Laoghaire and the nation.

The plan presents a strategy for the development of Dún Laoghaire HarbOur into the next century promoting a vision of:

.a high quality environment and

.a balanced development of its
commercial and public services, marine-related industrial activities, recreation and tourism potential.

Implementation -Timescale.

The adoption of this strategy starts an active policy of promoting, managing and co-ordinating de!velopment in the Harbour. Work has already commenced on its implementation and a comprehensive scheme of site investigations is underway:

.The development of the ferry terminal to accommodate the new vessels destined to operate on the Dún Laoghaire -Holyhead route is a priority.

.Early installation of marina facilities can proceed in the Coal Harbour in tandem with development of the ferry terminal.

.The development of the Carlisle Pier is contingent on the transfer of the ferry operation to 5t Michael's Pier and work may commence on a phased basis even before this transfer has taken place.

Ferry Terminal

The Plan is committed to the development of the ferry terminal at Dún Laoghaire. It sees the revenues from the ferry operation, over time, providing the essential financial underpinning of the Harbour Authority's activities.
The new ferry complex proposal is centred on St. Michael's Wharf. It has three salient elements:-
.vessel berthage to accommodate future ferries.

.shore operations area to provide enhanced operational capacity.

.passenger facilities incorporating state-of-the-art passenger terminal building.

The present operations at the (arlisle Pier will be vacated and the area reallocated to other public leisure/amenity uses.

Amenities

The amenity value of the natural and built environment of the Harbour is given careful attention. Appropriate restoration of buildings and structures will be undertaken, suitable landscaping, provision of managed public car parking and improvements in pedestrian access and facilities for sightseeing, angling, bird-watching etc

Recreation

The Plan's objective is to optimise the use o waterspace within the Harbour. There is scope tOr more intensive recreational use of the Harbour by:

.Installation of marina facilities:

.The Coal Harbour (200 berths) .The Carlisle/ East Pier (200 -300
berths)

.Residual locations (100 -140 berths)

.Increase in swinging moorings:

.better use of existing swinging moorings
.the introduction of fore-and-aft moorings in the Old Harbour (additional 70 moorings)

.Enhanced facilities for sail training, dinghies, rowing boats etc.

.Improvements in public slipways and where possible additions installed as a means of providing more public access points to the water.

Public Marina

General criteria have been set down governing the allocation of moorings and the installation of marinas. These criteria place constraints on the development ()f marina facilities in the Harbour which determine the time frame and order in which development can proceed.

Further Information

A summary brochure has been prepared as a guideline to the Development Plan for Dún laoghaire Harbour prepared by the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Board.

Copies of the Development Plan and further copies of this Bulletin can be obtained from:

Mr Frank Sheridan,
Secretary,
Dún laoghaire Harbour Board,
Harbour lodge,
Crofton Road,
Dún laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Phone 2801311,
Fax 2809607,
Telex 91798.