Delegates at an international conference of marine scientists, SEABED 10, in Dublin next week will hear how an independent study has valued the benefits of the state’s marine mapping programme at €275 million. This is more than four times what will be spent completing the “INFOMAR” programme. This is one of the largest science projects ever undertaken in Ireland and, in an excellent example of co-operation between state bodies, it is being jointly managed by the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and the Marine Institute (MI).
In announcing the conference, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Conor Lenihan, TD., commented “Ireland leads the way in global marine science and seabed mapping and this conference will showcase our achievements to date. At a time of financial difficulties it is crucial that such projects can be demonstrated to have a significant fiscal benefit to the state and I welcome the findings of a PricewaterhouseCoopers report on INFOMAR showing a return of over four times the cost." The benefits accrue across a range of sectors from fishing, tourism and energy, to compliance with international legislation and the research sector. The study, as well as tangible examples of real benefits to the state, will be presented at the conference.
The state’s latest research vessel the RV KEARY, a dedicated inshore mapping launch, will also be named during the conference. The vessel is a 15 metre aluminium catamaran, purpose-built for inshore mapping with state of the art technology. Amongst her best attributes is her ability to deliver exceptional depth accuracy, vital for safe transport and offshore development and protection. She is named after the late Raymond Keary, distinguished Irish marine geologist who had the vision of a national marine mapping project. According to Minister Lenihan, “in commissioning the new vessel, KEARY, we will also see cost effective mapping of our shallowest waters and a valuable addition to our national research capacity.”
One project based on seabed mapping results has just returned from deepwater filming of coral reefs on parts of the Rockall Bank for the very first time. The survey partners - GSI, MI and the National Parks and Wildlife Service - employed the Marine Institute vessel, the Celtic Explorer and her new remotely operated vehicle, the ROV Holland. This study will assist the process of designation of new offshore Special Areas of Conservation.
The Conference takes place at Liberty Hall in Dublin on October 5th and 6th, with the vessel-naming at Poolbeg Marina on Tuesday evening at 5.45. Interested parties can register at http://www.infomar.ie/.
Notes:
INFOMAR stands for Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Irelands Marine Resource. The INFOMAR website is http://www.infomar.ie/.
The INFOMAR project is an ambitious joint venture to map Ireland’s most productive and commercially valuable inshore waters and is being undertaken by Geological Survey of Ireland and the Marine Institute, funded by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources. Covering some 125,000 square kilometres of underwater territory, the INFOMAR project is producing integrated mapping products covering the physical, chemical and biological features of the seabed.
INFOMAR follows on from the Irish National Seabed Survey, which mapped all of Ireland’s deeper waters between 1999-2005, and taken together they represent one of the largest such projects undertaken anywhere in the world.
Use of the data obtained under the project include:
- the development of offshore energy, with the mapping key to identifying suitable sites and cable routes for wind, wave and tidal generators.
- safer offshore navigation due to updated charts
- supports work being carried out under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, whereby Ireland has been successful in extended continental shelf submissions
- simulation of tides which is useful for the aquaculture and costal protection engineers
- production of maps on the nature of the seabed (whether mud, sand, rock or gravel) which is used in both environmental protection and more efficient fishing practices.
- provision of updates for the national shipwrecks database maintained by National Monuments Service and used by sport fishermen and divers.
Raymond Keary 1937-2003 RIP
Ray Keary was a respected and important employee of the Geological Survey of Ireland for over two decades, where he founded the Marine Geology programme having worked with NUIG for fifteen years prior to that. His influence in his chosen field of Marine Science was huge and his outstanding legacy is Ireland’s seabed mapping programme that he tirelessly lobbied for.
The Research Vessel KEARY
The RV Keary is a purpose built, aluminium catamaran designed for the survey of shallow waters, with a draft of only 1.7m. The 15 metre fully-equipped and state of the art hydrographic/geophysical launch will deliver survey data that will meet all required international specifications. Equipment includes a multi-beam echo sounder for imaging the seabed at cm scale resolution, GPS navigation, side-scan sonar for shipwreck identification, seabed profiler and Automatic Identification System. The vessel was delivered under contract by Irish company, IMAR Survey of Galway.
First ever imagery of newly discovered reefs on Rockall Bank, from a National Parks & Wildlife Service survey, collaborating with GSI & MI, and investigating features identified from the national mapping programme. Pictures taken from RV Celtic Explorer.
Further information and images available from:
Press Office
Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
Email: press.office@dcenr.gov.ie
Or Koen Verbruggen, GSI Tel 087 2042974
For Seabed10 Conference details see http://www.infomar.ie/
To register contact enda.gallagher@gsi.ie
Published: 02/10/2009
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