Dear Members,
As you are aware, a number of commercial shipping operations take place within and around Dún Laoghaire Harbour during the summer months.
Please see below the procedure for reporting any incidents or near misses involving these vessels, as advised by the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Authority. As a general guideline, we recommend that members keep well clear of all commercial activity within the harbour.
DUN LAOGHAIRE HARBOUR NOTICE TO MARINERS REPORTING OF MARINE ACCIDENTS OR NEAR MISSES.
1.A) Statutory Reporting Requirements
The Marine Accident Investigation Unit (MAIU) was established on 1 January 2026 under Section 7(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025. The MAIU fulfils Ireland’s obligations under Directive 2009/18/EC and SOLAS Chapters I/21 and XI-1/6.
Under the Act, masters, skippers, operators, and persons in charge of vessels are required to report without delay any marine accident involving:
• Commercial vessels, or
• Interactions between commercial and recreational vessels, including near misses. A marine accident includes a casualty or an incident, and an incident includes a near miss.
B) Legislative Clarification
There is no statutory requirement to report marine accidents or near misses involving only:
• Personal watercraft (PWCs),
• Recreational craft, or
• Small fast powered craft (defined as: “A ship (other than a recreational craft) of less than 7 metres in length overall with a total propulsion power of equal to or greater than 150KW) unless a non-recreational vessel is also involved.
C) Reporting to the MAIU (Statutory Requirement)
Where an accident or near miss meets the statutory criteria above, notification must be made directly to the MAIU:
24-hour reporting line: +353 1 676 8139
General queries: info@maiu.gov.ie
Office hours: +353 1 604 0578
Website: www.maiu.gov.ie
D) Purpose of Marine Safety Investigations
Marine safety investigations aim to determine the causes of accidents and improve safety. They do not apportion blame or liability.
2.A) Additional Reporting Requested by Dún Laoghaire Harbour
To support safe and efficient harbour operations, Dún Laoghaire Harbour requests that all harbour users, including recreational craft, club vessels, and personal watercraft, report any accident, incident, or near miss occurring within the harbour or its approaches, even where such events do not meet statutory reporting thresholds.
This includes:
• Near misses between recreational and non-recreational craft,
• Situations where vessel handling or navigation could have endangered safety if not corrected,
• Vessels being towed or escorted into the harbour following an incident.
B) This requirement exists because Dún Laoghaire Harbour itself has statutory obligations to:
• Report marine accidents and near misses to the appropriate national authorities. • Ensure the safety, environmental protection, and efficient operation of the harbour.
Failure to notify the Harbour Authority may compromise safety and may constitute a breach of statutory or local harbour requirements. This local reporting request does not alter or extend statutory obligations under national legislation.
C) Reporting to Dún Laoghaire Harbour
Assistant Harbour Master: Laura Jackson
Email: Ljackson@dlrcoco.ie
Phone: 087 0647231
Operations Manager: Tim Ryan
Email: tryan@dlrcoco.ie
Phone: 087 1228576
Reporting template Downloadable as above
Harbour Master
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Contacts:
Phone: +353 83 144 3412 (Harbour Police/Office) Email: harbourmaster@dlrcoco.ie
Website: https://www.dlrcoco.ie/dun-laoghaire-harbour-0