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Trawler runs aground at
Greencastle 11.04.07
One of Donegal’s
largest whitefish trawlers ran aground yesterday
afternoon causing major disruption and financial
losses at Greencastle Harbour.
Easter holidaymakers had to be turned away by the
Lough Foyle Ferry Company after the Marliona
grounded around 1pm as she attempted to leave the
pier for a fishing expedition.
Foyle Fisherman’s Co-Op manager, John O’Kane said
the incident happened in low tide due to a build-up
of silt. |
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“A major dredge is
urgently needed in the harbour. The Marliona is
Greencastle’s largest whitefish trawler with a crew
of eight to ten men,” he said.
“It has lost at least a day’s fishing because of
this which could cost anything up to €6,000 or
more.”
Meanwhile, ferry skipper, Frank McDermott, said his
vessel, the Foyle |
Venture, was too wide
to pass the grounded trawler. As a result he was
unable to leave harbour for the rest of the day
resulting in the cancellation of around ten
sailings.
“We had to turn quite a lot of cars away and have
lost a good bit of business as a result. Luckily, it
didn’t happen on Easter Monday or the losses would
have been much bigger.”
The ferry carried around 800 vehicles on Bank
Holiday Monday.
Belfast tourist John Gray, had hoped to cross the
Foyle to visit Portstewart yesterday. “It’s a bit
disappointing but what can you do? We’ll just have
to drive now instead.”
The Marliona skipper hoped to make his exit at the
next high tide, due at 2am today. If this is missed,
it will be 3pm before it can again attempt to leave
harbour.
The Foyle Fisherman’s Co-Op recently welcomed €16.5m
funding for a major redevelopment of Greencastle
Harbour. Mr. O’Kane said it was imperative phase two
of the development, the building of a new outer
harbour, got underway as soon as possible to prevent
similar accidents in future. |
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