Tag Archives: Killybegs Harbour
Trawlers Unplug after 380% Increase in ESB Bills
Killybegs trawler owners have plugged out of an innovative harbour-side electricity source after they were told their bills would almost quadruple. The €1.7M ‘shore power’ system to allow fishing boats to connect to electricity when in Killybegs Harbour, thereby cutting out harmful emissions from diesel generators, was only launched in November 2021. However, a notice was posted on the harbour last week informing owners that a government agreement with ESB would end on November 30. “As of December 1, every one of us is back using the diesel generators, and we are not even getting a fuel subsidy. >click to read< 08:15
New €20 million fishing vessel arrives in Killybegs
The ‘Antarctic’ is one of the most modern and high tech pelagic fishing vessels in Europe. It is owned by Teresa and Eamon McHugh who operate the Antarctic Fishing Company. Sons Eamon J. and Gerard are also deeply involved in the family business, with Eamon J. managing the shore side and Gerard fishing alongside his father as skipper. While the hull for ‘Antarctic’ was built by Karstensen Shipyard in Skagen. Denmark, everything onboard the new vessel was supplied by Killybegs-based companies. “Barry Electronics has installed the electronics while Sea Quest supplied the hydraulics, winch and crane package. Sea Quest supplied the full RSW-machinery and vacuum unloading packages and KT Nets and Swan Nets supplied the nets and life-saving equipment. >click to read< 20:10
Toxic fumes from decaying fish contributed to the deaths of two fishermen
A report has found that two crewmen died after bring exposed to toxic fumes from a trawler’s fish tank. The men were carrying out checks on the FV Oileán an Óir in Killybegs Harbour, Co Donegal, which had been out of use for some time, when they were overcome by the fumes. The report says that although two of the three crewmen on board were experienced, a skipper did not accompany them on the day of the incident in August 2015. As the crew began to test the trawler out, seawater was pumped through the two refrigerated sea water (RSW) fish storage tanks. Although there had been no reported problems with the system in the prior five years, the fishermen noticed that the water was dirty and decided to empty the tanks using a vacuum pumping system. Read this story 15:36
