PORT OF CORK COMPANY. Submission to the Department of Defence on the Green Paper on Defence

Transcription

1 PORT OF CORK COMPANY Submission to the Department of Defence on the Green Paper on Defence 26 September 2013

2 CONTENTS Page 1. Introduction Context The Port of Cork 2 2. The Detailed Case for the Irish Naval Service The Strategic Role Provided by the Naval Service Some of the Operational Successes of the Naval Service The Continuing Need for the Naval Service 5 3. Conclusion 7

3 1. Introduction 1.1 Context The first White Paper on Defence was published in Since then, there have been significant changes in the defence and security environment and now the Government plans to publish a new White Paper on Defence to take these changes into account. To inform the development of this new White Paper, the Government published a Green Paper on Defence in July The Green Paper sets out the changes that have occurred in the defence and security environment since 2000 and the State s policy response. The Paper includes an assessment of likely future challenges, sets out a number of policy-focused questions for consideration and provides the opportunity to update the vision for Defence while keeping faith with those elements of continuing relevance in the Irish context. In particular, the Green Paper notes Globally and regionally, the last decade has seen an increased emphasis on collective security, which reflects the evolution of threats in the defence and security environment. This collective security requirement has been reflected in defence and security environment assessments from the UN and in the European Union s (EU) 2003 European Security Strategy (ESS). Changes in the approach to emergency planning have seen the establishment of the Office of Emergency Planning which supports the Government Taskforce on Emergency Planning. Globalisation has transformed the sources and nature of security threats. Borders and geographic location no longer provide the same degree of protection as in the past. The specific objectives of this Green Paper are: To stimulate an open, mature and wide ranging consultative process to update the approach to Defence as a follow-on to the 2000 White Paper; In updating Ireland s approach, to reflect the changes that have taken place in the international and domestic defence, security and economic environments; To give appropriate underpinning to Ireland s engagement in international bodies particularly the United Nations and the European Union; To configure Defence policy in ways which reflect these foregoing matters and to provide appropriate flexibility in the period ahead to take account of on-going changes to the defence and security environment; To ensure that the stated roles of the Defence Forces are consistent with requirements; To guide and underpin decisions relating to the capacity of the Defence Organisation to include resourcing, corporate skills, organisation, force composition and equipment acquisition over the next ten years, building on recent reorganisation measures for the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force; To sustain and develop the Defence Organisation as one in which people are proud to serve; Page 1

4 To ensure Defence policy contributes in a congruent way with wider social and economic policy to achieve national recovery. The development of the White Paper, therefore, is expected to benefit greatly from the subsequent wide, inclusive and informed debate on the defence and security challenges facing Ireland, and how we should respond to those challenges. 1.2 The Port of Cork The Port of Cork Company (PoC) is the second largest multi-modal port in the Republic and the principal multi-modal cargo port on the south coast of Ireland. It handles lift-on lift-off, roll-on roll-off, cruise, dry bulk, liquid bulk and break bulk. It also accommodates the only oil refinery in the state, a facility of national importance. Services are available throughout the harbour area with public docking facilities provided at the City Quays, Ringaskiddy, Tivoli, and Cobh. As such, the port is a strategic asset and is a key link in the supply chain of industry in the south and south west regions. The Port of Cork has recently been designated as one of three Core Irish Ports within the emerging Connecting Europe Core Network of Ports. Its importance to the Irish economy and the European transport networks, particularly because of its location and deep water, has thus been recognised. In 2012, freight throughput was over 9.0 million tonnes, approximately 19 per cent of the Republic s volumes, and the Port had a turnover of almost 22 million. There continues to be a strong link and good working relationship between the Port of Cork and Naval Service; for instance Haulbowline, the Headquarters of the Naval Service, is located within the jurisdictional area of the Port of Cork Both the Port of Cork and Naval Service are members or contributors to the activities of the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) and the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) at Cork The Naval Service recently participated in a Port of Cork-led marine exercise to test the responsiveness of local and regional bodies to a major marine incident The Port of Cork provides the Naval Service with pilotage and berthage outside the Naval base as required The Naval Service was tasked on two occasions in Cork to enable free movement of shipping and maintain order They were also members of the Spike Island Project Steering Committee that oversaw the preparation of a short, medium and longterm Masterplan for the development of the Island into a viable national tourism product and recreational resource Consequently, the Port of Cork is pleased to provide this submission as its contribution to the Defence debate with a particular focus on the role of the Naval Service. Our main contentions are that the Irish Naval Service Page 2

5 has an important role in maintaining security of access to Irish ports, a role that is particularly vital given our island status provides an important role in assisting the civil authorities in matters of security, fisheries protection, pollution control and emergency support Haulbowline base is identified by regional emergency services as an ideal location for the handling of and coordination for marine and shipping emergencies on the southwest coast. can support Ireland s obligations in the context of the international order, international agreements and the rule of law can fulfil Ireland s international and regional responsibilities by participating in humanitarian relief operations can play an important role in UN and EU-sponsored international maritime missions is one of the major Irish providers of skilled and experienced marine labour force is well placed to offer a national emergency towage, salvage and pollution response services Page 3

6 2. The Detailed Case for the Irish Naval Service As part of the case for the development of the Irish Naval Service, we look in this Chapter in more detail at the strategic role provided by the Naval Service; we also summarise some of the operational successes achieved by the Naval Service and conclude with some thoughts on key inputs that we believe that the Naval Service should provide in the national interest. 2.1 The Strategic Role Provided by the Naval Service Since the publication of the White Paper, the total area over which Ireland claims maritime sovereign rights (to various degrees) has almost doubled and is now approximately 220 million acres extending 1,000km (over 600nm) into the North Atlantic. This represents a sea to land ratio in excess of 12:1 when compared to the land mass of the State. The Naval Service is the State s principal seagoing agency and has continued to undertake a broad range of security tasks including ongoing surveillance and patrolling of the State s maritime domain. The Naval Service operates as part of the Joint Task Force on Drugs Interdiction (with an Garda Síochána and Revenue). In this context, Ireland contributes to the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre Narcotics (MAOC-N), which was established in 2007 as an international coordination centre to provide a greater focus on intelligence exchange between its seven member countries (i.e. Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy) to tackle large drug shipments by sea. On a day to day basis, routine patrols are multi-tasked to encompass security, safety and surveillance, port security, fishery protection, drug interdiction, pollution control and search and rescue. The Fisheries Monitoring Centre at the Naval Base is the designated national centre with responsibility for monitoring all fishing activity within the Irish Exclusive Fishery Limits and all Irish fishing vessels operating around the world. The Diving Section within the Naval Service routinely undertakes a range of operations in support of an Garda Síochána and the civil authorities. The Naval Service is also a partner at the National Maritime College and the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) at Cork. In addition, Naval Service vessels have, on occasion, undertaken supply and reconnaissance missions in support of overseas peace support operations and participated in foreign visits in support of Irish trade and diplomacy. 2.2 Some of the Operational Successes of the Naval Service The Naval Service has been involved in a range of significant events. They include participating in the Search and Rescue operation during the Fastnet Disaster off the West Cork coast in playing a key role in the seizure of the IRA gun-running fishing vessel, Marita Anne, near the Skellig Rocks, intercepting the trawler with 160 arms and 71,000 rounds of ammunition on board Page 4

7 carrying out UNIFIL resupply missions including bringing supplies to Irish troops on peace keeping duties in South Lebanon, Cyprus, Eritrea and the former Yugoslavia partaking in the Air India Disaster recovery off the south west coast in June 1985 patrolling our waters and preventing drugs from reaching Irish shores. a landmark deployment to the Far East which included the first ever visit by an Irish naval ship to Hong Kong, Incheon, Shanghai, Tokyo and Penang with a refuelling stop in Cochin, India In 1991, The B&I vessel MV Kilkenny collided with a German vessel in Dublin Bay. The Kilkenny sank with the loss of three lives. The Naval Service was involved in the Search and Rescue operation, where LE Aisling took On Scene Command, and assisted with the recovery of bodies, salvage and cleanup involvement in the rescue operation for HMCS Chicoutimi, a Canadian Navy submarine which suffered a fire off the coast of Donegal in October 2004 the transport and delivery of vehicles, equipment and personnel to Monrovia s war-torn port, and the logistic, medical and communications support of the recce party as they explored the coastal areas on the occasion of the blockade of Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Rosslare and Waterford Ports for several days by a nationwide protest by Irish fishermen, the Government ordered the Naval Service to clear the ports and, using the principle of minimum force, carried this out in an efficient, timely and professional manner as noted earlier, the Naval Service was tasked on two occasions in Cork to enable free movement of shipping and maintain order and safety 2.3 The Continuing Need for the Naval Service As a major Irish port company serving regional and national needs, we, the Port of Cork, argue that there are a number of operational roles that the Naval Service should and must provide. For example as an island economy, the security of the logistical supply chain is of major importance to ensure the efficient and effective movement of goods into and out of the island. Any long-term interruption to trade arising from a blockage of ports, particularly fuel supplies oil and coal for instance, raw materials and the export of agriculture produce for instance, would have significant impact on the Irish economy and could put jobs in jeopardy in a world where crime and terrorism respect no boundaries, the Naval Service should be sufficiently resourced to protect Ireland s natural resources and offshore plant that would be involved in exploring and pumping such assets ashore Ireland is becoming a major cruise destination with significant number of cruise vessel visits annually. Cork and Dublin, by far, receive the greatest number of such visits annually. Because of their economic significance, any perceived risk or threat to their movement either in Irish waters or in port could have serious repercussions. The Naval Service would have a major role in addressing such a threat should it arise further, there are many goodwill visits to Ireland from other navies. Any threat to them would also require the input of the Naval Service as a backup to the civil authorities the Irish navy should continue to make goodwill visits to other countries. They provide a positive image of the country and raise our international profile. Visits can be industrial ambassadors and offer an opportunity to show Ireland s exports Page 5

8 as the Green Paper notes, the area of State jurisdiction has been expanded to encompass the continental shelf. This has implications for the provision of maritime law enforcement services. Security challenges also arise in relation to enhanced economic activity that is planned within this enlarged area of State jurisdiction. The Government Plan, Harnessing our Ocean Wealth sets two targets: to double the value of our ocean wealth to 2.4% of GDP by 2030 and to increase the turnover from our ocean economy to exceed 6.4bn by The Naval Service has a critical role in the defence and security of Ireland s maritime interests fish stock is becoming an increasing scarce resource and thus the potential for conflict between competing fishing fleets is ever increasing. The Irish Naval Service has an important role in protecting the Irish fishing fleet in such instances fire control is the responsibility of the Fire Service and, in some cases, the Coast Guard. However, the Naval Service can also play a major role in fire control and management of offshore fire incidents because of its vessel fleet and skilled workforce equally, the Naval Service can support the Coast Guard in matters of environmental protection and pollution control the lack of an emergency towage service for vessels particularly close to shore can give rise to potentially significant environmental catastrophes. A feasibility study should be commissioned to examine how naval vessels, and particularly those to be delivered in the near future, can be modified to provide this service Ireland is a respected member of the United Nations and has been called on many times to contribute to peace-keeping operations. On those occasions where Irish forces have been engaged, the Army has participated. As a maritime nation, Ireland should also provide Naval Service resources Page 6

9 3. Conclusion The Port of Cork welcomes the Green Paper on Defence and is please to make this submission. We argue that the Naval Service is a critical element of the Defence Forces and has a particularly significant role to play in ensuring and maintaining the economic well-being and competitiveness of the nation. As an island economy, ports are a major link in the supply chain and handle considerable volumes of imports and exports for a range of customers, large and small. Any threat to their carriage, be it in the form of a port blockage or ship incident, could have a significant economic impact. The Naval Service has a particular role in addressing such a potential threat and must be sufficiently resourced to handle such threats. We also contend that the Naval Service should be appropriately resourced and trained to protect Ireland s natural energy resources and off-shore exploration and distribution plant to address threats to vessels, be they commercial or belonging to other navies, in port or at sea to protect the Irish fishing fleet to defend and secure Ireland s maritime interests particularly in the light of the expansion of Ireland s jurisdiction of the continental shelf to play a major role in fire control and management of offshore fire incidents to support the Coast Guard in matters of environmental protection and pollution control to provide an emergency towage, salvage and pollution response services following a study to examine its feasibility to continue to carry out goodwill visits to contribute to peace-keeping operations A failure to resource and support the Naval Service could have serious consequences for Ireland, and impact on its national and international standing. It could also have damaging effects on our image. The Port of Cork is proud of the Irish Naval Service and our ongoing relationship with it. The forthcoming White Paper must recognise the value of the Naval Service and its contribution to the economic life of the county, to protecting our assets and to our defence and security needs. Page 7