Update From the Club Meeting on Harbour Development Plans

Justin McKenna, the Commodore opened the meeting with a welcome to the Members and advised them that he had submitted his resignation from the board of the Harbour Company, with immediate effect. He then proceeded to present an overview of the DLHC proposals for the new cruise liner berthing arrangements inside the harbour.
This was followed by an open session from the Members. Here is an abbreviated selection of the contributions from the floor:

• The councillors should be advised that the city of Venice is considering banning all big cruise liners because they are causing untold damage to the fabric of the city. The income from these liners is valued at 10c per passenger.
• Harbour Plans -RSGYC welcomes ships to Dublin Bay but not inside the harbour. Cruise ships are good for Dun Laoghaire, anchored in the bay and we welcome SMALL ships in the harbour.
• Each sailing class should make a submission and encourage submissions.
• The economic benefit to Dun Laoghaire is not good from the passenger perspective. There will be initial public interest. However, this will fall off over time as people become bored with them.
• The only beneficiaries will be the coach tour operators.
• Some basic calculations would indicate that it will take + 100 yrs. to recover the construction cost.
• The Dublin Port proposal is in direct competition yet it is only a few miles away.
• Dun Laoghaire is the major centre for youth training on the island of Ireland. This proposal will have a detrimental if not fatal effect on this activity.
• The scale of the ships is difficult to comprehend and is out of character with a Victorian harbour.
• International Sailing events will not come to Dun Laoghaire. Tourism Ireland will not be happy.
• The water wag class commenced sailing in the harbour in 1887 and is one of the oldest racing classes in the world.
• Irish Lights have conducted many studies of the harbour bed and a considerable area is covered in granite. Dredging cost numbers will be almost double the cost estimated and Dublin Port will be gaining from the anchoring dues.

Please choose the points you wish to make and let the Harbour Company know your views.

Observations or comments can be submitted by email to info@dlharbour.ie or by post to Jean Finnegan, Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, Harbour Lodge, Crofton Rd, Dun Laoghaire, anytime up to 5pm on Monday, 13th April 2015.

Please read the provided links, including the letter from the Commodore to the Cruise Stakeholders Group