Irish Department of Transport, Tourism, Sport issues Marine Notice No.12/2013
The Irish Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport issued a Marine Notice to advise Shipowners, Ship Operators, Shipmasters, Harbour Masters and Ships’ agents of the requirements for passenger ships engaged in the tendering of passengers between the ship and shore.
All tender vessels must comply with the relevant provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts.
There are two main types of tendering as follows:
(a) Passenger vessels using ship’s own tender vessels;
(b) Shore based domestic tender
Considering each as follows:
(a) Ship’s Own Tender Vessels – International Cruise Ships
It may be necessary for a ship to use its own tenders in cases where suitable berthing facilities are not available, or where the ships draft or size prevent it from entering a port. This is permissible under the Merchant Shipping Act 2010 which sets out the requirements to be followed.
Proposals must be in compliance with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 2010 and the IMO Guidelines for Passenger Ship Tenders as contained in IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1417.
(b) Using Shore Based Tender Vessels – Domestic Passenger Ships/Boats
All such tender vessels must comply with the Merchant Shipping Acts and hold a current valid passenger ship safety certificate or passenger boat licence.
Domestic Passenger ships/boats are to be moored to a single point mooring for the duration of the transfer. Such moorings are to be licensed by Coastal Zone Management, and must not be located such as to cause obstruction to other vessels. Owners must ensure that such moorings are inspected on an annual basis.
Domestic Tendering operations will normally only be permitted for the summer period comprising of June, July and August and is subject to annual review.
Application Procedure
The owner or master of a ship who proposes to undertake a tendering operation at any place in the State, in respect of that ship, must apply to the Marine Survey Office for a permit to undertake such operation by submitting for approval a tendering operations safety plan proposal in the format laid out in the Annex to this notice. An application for a permit to tender should be submitted 28 days before the date of the proposed tendering, to allow sufficient time for the proposal to be assessed
Source: Irish Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
