Key Contact: Alice Whittaker – Chairperson and Partner |
Circular MP02/2025 – MARA – The Maritime Regulator has just been published on the Irish Maritime Regulator’s website. The Circular relates to the authorisation for emergency works to underwater cables etc. It clarifies that “emergency repairs to critical underwater infrastructure, including telecommunications and energy cables” involving a “finite once-off intervention in serious circumstances in order to protect life and/or property” do not require a maritime usage licence under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, as amended.
This intervention is timely. There has been a remarkable level of transparency from British authorities in relation to the activities of the “Yantar” marine research vessel close to British waters in recent days (links to BBC and RTE reports in the comments below), and this is not the first time such vessels have been active close to subsea infrastructure that is essential to Ireland’s society and economy as a relatively remote island.
Our regulatory framework must be cohesive and ensure that those with legal responsibility to operate, maintain and repair existing and future critical infrastructure, including water, power, communications, and transport, have the ability to do immediately and as and when required: Critical Entities Resilience (CER) Regulations.
