Yvonne Shields is Chief Executive of Irish Lights which has launched a new strategy up to 2030 for safe navigation around Ireland North and South. This strategy is set in the context of the importance of the sea to the island of Ireland, and the challenging nature of the waters around our coast from a navigational viewpoint. It takes account of the key drivers of change that will impact on the marine sector over the coming years, including the importance of safe and secure trade and infrastructure around our coasts, the government’s obligations under the Safety of Life at Sea Convention and changing maritime and environmental legislation.
At the heart of the strategy is a commitment to maritime safety for all. The primary focus of the strategy is Safe Navigation and the protection of lives, infrastructure and the environment at sea. The strategy takes account of the recently published Programme for Government priorities to support investment in commercial and port infrastructure, facilitate the achievement of offshore renewable energy targets, ensure sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and coastal tourism development and protect and manage our maritime environment, heritage and cultural assets. Safety is the common thread running through all these activities.
At the annual Seafarers national Conference in Limerick, Yvonne Shields (pictured on the left of the photograph with Ken Spratt, Secretary General of the Department of Transport, and Mark Barr, Chairman of Irish Lights at the strategy launch) chaired a discussion on the future of seafaring, where she spoke about the importance of and need for ocean literacy. It is a very interesting point,about which I interview her on the April edition of my SEASCAPES Podcast, which you can hear on this website. I suggested that the Irish public has not shown itself to be particularly good about ocean literacy and she agreed, but pointed out that Ireland.
Interesting observations by Yvonne Shields, Chief Executive of Irish Lights and worth listening to as they point towards the need for increased – and improved – ocean literacy.
