Louth County Council to liaise on funding for navigation vessel
Louth County Council July meeting
Louth County Council is to liaise with Carlingford Lough Commissioner (CLC) on potential funding sources to help fund the acquisition of a new navigation maintenance vessel.
It follows a motion from Cllr John Reilly at the Louth County Council July meeting, where Cllr Reilly had asked that "Louth County Council provide any assistance at its disposal to support the sourcing of funding for a navigation vessel for the Carlingford Lough Commission to facilitate the safe navigation of both commercial shipping and recreational sailing on Carlingford Lough."
Cllr Reilly said the motion reflects the importance of the Commission’s work in maintaining essential maritime safety infrastructure across Carlingford Lough — a body that straddles the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and plays a critical role in both economies.
The Carlingford Lough Commission, originally established in the 1840s, predates Irish partition and currently maintains around 26 navigation buoys on the Lough. These buoys assist both commercial shipping vessels and pleasure craft as they navigate the waterway. Approximately eight of these buoys are located in Irish territorial waters, and are essential for ships accessing Greenore Port, while the remainder serve Warrenpoint Harbour.
“The current maintenance vessel is coming to the end of its working life,” said Cllr. Reilly. “The Commission is now seeking to purchase a smaller, more modern craft that will allow them to carry out essential maintenance and ensure safety on the Lough continues uninterrupted.”
According to Cllr Reilly, the estimated cost of the new vessel is £75,000. “This is about more than just one vessel,” he said. “It’s about recognising and supporting the quiet but vital work done by the Carlingford Lough Commission — work that supports trade, tourism, and safety on both sides of the border.”
Responding to Cllr Reilly's motion, Director of Services, Economic Delivery, Mr Thomas McEvoy, said that Carlingford Louth Commissioners "is the Statutory Harbour Authority, the Local Lighthouse Authority and the Competent Harbour Authority responsible for the provision of pilotage services for its area of jurisdiction. Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) is their corresponding Northern Ireland Authority on Carlingford Lough.
"Both CLC and WHA, in exercise of their legislative powers, act as a joint Navigation Authority for Carlingford Lough and have appointed a joint Harbour Master.
"The Council can assist CLC by directing it to potential funding sources and will liaise with CLC on this basis."