Depending on your point of view, the Hebble Sand dredger is either a valuable piece of maritime history or just an ugly eyesore.
The Hebble Sand arrived on the Boyne for the Drogheda Maritime Festival but, like many a festival goer, never made it home and it has been rotting away ever since. Some unkind people might say it has been dumped in Drogheda.
Since it sank at its moorings on the Drogheda quays over a year ago, on Tuesday September 6th2022, it has become another blot on the landscape of the Port area which, along with the derelict tank farm on the other side of the river, sends out all the wrong signals about how we care for Ireland’s largest town.
Throughout this debacle there has been no definite information about who actually owns the Hebble Sand but today the County Council said they are still in contact with the owners.
The Environmental Compliance section of Louth County Council told local deputy Fergus O’Dowd today that “No definitive timelines can be given” in relation to the stricken vessel.
In an email to Deputy O’Dowd the Council says:
The Load Line Survey has yet to be completed. The owners indicated last week they would chase this up with the Marine Survey Office. They said earlier this week that they are submitting an application for same.
Drogheda Port is still in contact with the owners. A number of options are being explored by the owners and will be accommodated by Drogheda Port where possible.
Drogheda Port will continue to work with the owners to the end goal of the removal of the Hebble Sand.
Last month the Minister of State for Transport, Jack Chambers TD, told O’Dowd that the Marine Survey Office is “proceeding in accordance with its established procedures and is waiting for the owner of the M/V Hebble Sand to progress their application for the required “Load Line” survey.
“Ownership of this port company was transferred to Louth County Council in 2017 and oversight of the company rests with the county council” the Minister said.
“It is therefore advised that any queries regarding the projected dates of removal of the ship from the Port of Drogheda be directed to Louth County Council, or to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, as the parent Department for the council.”
