Solving the mystery of the unusual maritime vessel in Cork Harbour last weekend

Passage West residents saw an unusual maritime visitor over the weekend.

Several people asked me about ‘”the vessel at Marino Point jetty” across the river from the town.

It looked naval, but wasn’t Irish.

RFA Tideforce was a new sight, instead of the MV Mathew, hauled away a week before. While looking ‘navy’ it is unusual, in that it is crewed by civilian merchant seafarers, not Royal Navy sailors.

RFA is the UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary, founded on August 3, 1905 by the Admiralty, a special, civilian-manned fleet owned by the UK Ministry of Defence.

Logistics

It provides sea-going logistics, fuel, ammunition and transport support to the Royal Navy. The RFA has been involved in wartime operations during its 121 years. It has nine ships at present, of which six are tankers designated to help keep warships in active service, supplied at sea.

Tideforce, a 39,000-tonne tanker, has been operating as part of the UK’s maritime security and anti-submarine monitoring operations between Ireland/UK and Atlantic waters. A supply ship to frontline warships.

It arrived on Friday for scheduled weekend rest and recreation (R&R), a port visit for its crew. It routinely stops in friendly European ports for crew downtime and logistics,” according to the Ministry of Defence which employs the crews.

While they sail on military auxiliary ships and fully support Royal Navy combat operations, their legal and operational status is merchant seafarers.

Built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering in South Korea, Tideforce was launched in January 2017.

It is just over 200 metres long, has a beam of 28, with speed of 20 knots and range of over 18,000 nautical miles.

HERITAGE WEEK

Heritage Week, starting this Saturday, will have maritime interest. Just down river from Passage West, at Monkstown, where villagers are continuing to battle Cork County Council to save their ‘Green Island,’ the sailing club is opening its archives.

“Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the club’s maritime heritage,” according to the village’s heritage committee. Monkstown was a vital part of enabling the Royal Cork to lay its claim to being the oldest yacht club in the world.

“We are celebrating Monkstown’s past and the strong sense of community that exists today. There will be a photographic exhibition of historical harbourside images and memories. St John’s Church of Ireland will have a special ‘Open Doors’ event. There will be a guided walk by the Tidy Towns Committee of local landmarks, architecture and community history.” It all runs from 11am to 6pm.

Upriver the Naval Service’s Samuel Beckett is to be open to visitors on Saturday morning and afternoon and 42 historic buildings will also be open to public visits around the city and suburbs.

Amongst maritime-related events in the extensive heritage week programme are a guided walking tour of the Marina, with its historic marine aspects, led by Kieran McCarthy on Thursday, August 20.

“Discover the history of the city’s promenade, from forgotten artefacts to ruinous follies; meet at western end adjacent Shandon Boat Club, The Marina, 6.30pm, free, no booking required, duration: 2 hours.”

At Cork City Library the sinking of the RMS Leinster is the topic on Saturday of next week, August 22, at 2pm. This has been described as Ireland’s ‘greatest maritime disaster.’

On October 10, 1918, during the First World War, 569 people perished when it was sun by a German submarine off Dublin.

Many on board were from Cork according to Carmel Kelly who will be telling all about the ship and its passengers.

OLD HEAD OF KINSALE LIGHTHOUSE

The Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse is a striking black-and-white banded tower located on a dramatic headland, about which I have unpleasant memories of the tidal race below it which can create choppy, difficult conditions, from the interaction between coastal tides and the prominent headland.

The colours were red-and-white before being changed to black-and-white in the summer of 1930. There is an interesting history to the light which can be traced back to a beacon in early and pre-Christian times. A previous tower, before the present, was found to be too high and often obscured by low cloud.

So the present tower, completed in 1853, was built at a cost of £10,430: 3s: 7d. in ’old’ money!

On Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30, there will be open days at the lighthouse at a cost of €15 for adults/€40 for a family.

Permitted by Old Head Golf Links and Commissioners of Irish Lights this helps funding continued maintenance and development of the Lusitania Museum and Old Head Signal Tower, a non-profit community project managed by a voluntary committee.

The Seascapes podcast is Ireland’s only regular maritime programme.

Listen at tommacsweeneyseascapes.ie or wherever you get podcasts.

Email: tommacsweeneyseascapes@gmail.com