Posted online: Feb 16th, 2010

A long-awaited solution to the problems faced by the Lough Swilly RNLI Lifeboat in recent years has finally become available.

At the statutory meeting of Buncrana Town Council on Thursday last, John McCarter and Liam Magee, of the Lough Swilly RNLI, outlined measures that could be taken to ensure the lifeboat is able to launch when it needs to – without the help of a breakwater.

They revealed that with an investment of up to 70,000 euro a year, shared between the Buncrana Town Council, Donegal County Council and the RNLI, an annual plough dredging system carried out by the Derry Port and Harbour dredger, could be put in place.

Currently, there have been problems with maintaining the depth in the berth and approaches.

Numerous types of dredging have taken place to rectify the problem and allow the lifeboat to launch, with the most recent being plough dredging.

Prior to the recent plough dredging at the harbour site, the lifeboat was unable to launch for a significant period either side of low water due to siltation. 

Also, the restricted channel widths made manoeuvring more difficult. When the lifeboat is unable to launch there is no all-weather cover between Arranmore and Portrush.

A breakwater had been suggested as a solution to this, however it has been met with many problems and is “very unlikely to happen.”

At Thursday’s meeting, the RNLI deputation said the most effective and cost effective method has been a mixture of plough dredging using the Derry Port and Harbour vessel the Otter Bank in conjunction with a pier and beach based long reach excavator.

However, this has been done on what is called a “fire fighting” basis rather than as maintenance.

Mr McCarter said the most “practicable solution” would be if Donegal County Council and Buncrana Town Council were to enter into a maintenance dredging with the Derry Port and Harbour vessel and do this in conjunction with land based excavation, based on maintaining the berth and approaches at a minimum of 2 two metre depth at “low water spring tides.” This would mean the needs of the lifeboat could be “comfortably met.”

However, one complication to the proposal is the insistence of the Department of the Environment that an annual licence for plough dredging be secured – despite, as afar as the RNLI is aware, this is not needed in the UK or other EU countries with a coastline.

The RNLI recently asked to have plough dredging exempted from licensing, however, Minster for the Environment John Gormley declined to do so.

Mr Carter indicated if the solution came to pass, the local RNLI would be in line for a top of the range Tamar Class lifeboat and in the longer term, they would like to construct a new station at Buncrana pier. At present, they operate from two stations, one at the pier and one at Ned’s Point.

The RNLI deputation received full support from Buncrana Town Council.

County Manager Michael McLoone described it as “a very important decision” and said he would take the proposal, which was formally proposed by Cllr Joe Doherty and seconded by Mayor Cllr Lee Tedstone, to Donegal County Council.

He added he would also take the proposal to Minister Gormley to ask that plough dredging be exempted from licensing arrangements and that by entering into an arrangement with Derry Port and Harbour, that plough dredging would be done on a systematic basis.

Also, he added he would inform the Minister the RNLI do not intend to pursue a breakwater on a sub-lease basis

In closing, Mr Carter also paid tribute to the Inishowen public who he said, have given them generous support in RNLI fundraising