Shell gets go ahead to survey Sruwaddacon Bay

national | environment | news report Friday March 28, 2008 19:59 by Joe

Minister gives go ahead

Shell are about begin offshore work off the Erris coast in the coming weeks, after minister gave consent in early march

Shell are about begin offshore work off the Erris coast in the coming weeks, this work will comprise of a survey of Sruwaddacon Bay, which is now almost certain to be the final route for the controversial high pressure pipe.
Minister John Gormley gave his permission for "Survey" works to be carried out in Sruwaddacon Bay earlier this month, and a pontoon structure is being delivered to Ballyglass next week which will then be towed to Sruwaddacon Bay to begin the work.
A number of support vessels will also arrive next week, but it is expected that it may be several weeks (maybe months) before the pipe laying ships arrive in the area.
Shell has recruited approx 20 observers, mostly fishermen and RNLI members from the Erris area who will "observe" the work been carried out, so as to ensure it is been done in an environmentally safe manner.
The vessels will be based at Ballyglass, and they will be of major concern to the large fishing fleet which used that port as a base.