Latest news with #JamieO'Hara
Scotsman
11-06-2025
- Scotsman
Veteran CalMac ferry Hebridean Isles' final voyage delayed by post-Brexit hazardous waste regulations
Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A veteran CalMac ferry has had a stay of execution from a Danish scrapyard because of post-Brexit regulations over importing hazardous material into the EU, The Scotsman has learned. Hebridean Isles, which was retired in November after nearly 39 years service, is still docked in Glasgow pending its final voyage to the breaker's yard to be recycled. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hebridean Isles at King George V Dock in Glasgow on May 21 | John Devlin/The Scotsman The 85m-long ferry was due to have been towed to Esbjerg in Denmark in April after equipment was stripped from the vessel for spare parts and preservation as memorial artefacts. However, it remains at King George V Dock near the Braehead shopping centre, pending the ship being permitted to enter the EU because it contains hazardous material. This is understood to relate to insulation in freezer compartments aboard. The 3,040 tonne ferry's decommissioning is being handled by Scottish Government-owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal), which owns CalMac's fleet. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Cmal spokesperson said: 'Decommissioning a ferry is a complex task, which requires input from a range of specialists. Hebridean Isles was due to have left Glasgow in April | Jamie O'Hara 'From salvaging engine parts to removing hazardous material, the project has been closely managed to ensure compliance with all partners, such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Danish equivalent. 'The rules have changed since Brexit' 'We are in the final stages of completing the required paperwork and hope to see her start the journey to Denmark as soon as all necessary permissions are granted. 'The rules have changed since Brexit and it takes more time to obtain approvals on paperwork. When paired with the complexity of decommissioning work to retain important parts of the vessel, the project has taken slightly longer than originally planned.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cmal said in February in relation to Hebridean Isles' scheduled departure from Scotland: 'We are targeting April subject to regulatory approval.' However, in May, it said: 'The plan is for the vessel to start the journey next month.' The voyage is expected to take six to seven days. 'No loss or profit' The company said the ferry, which latterly served the main Islay route, was being recycled in Denmark rather than in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK because it was 'the most commercially viable option', but Cmal would not make or lose money from the deal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Its spokesperson said: 'The expectation is that there will be no loss or profit. However, valuable assets were recovered during the decommissioning of the vessel, which will be used to support the existing fleet.' These include the ferry's engine, pumps, alternators and gearbox, which have been saved as spare parts for other CalMac vessels of a similar vintage. Hebridean Isles' bridge being stripped of parts | Craig Findlay Other items will go on display, such as seating and lifebuoys at public gardens in Islay, the ship's bell at a museum on the island, and a builder's plaque at Selby in North Yorkshire where the ship was built. First CalMac ferry to be recycled for 14 years CalMac is short of vessels, but the decision to scrap Hebridean Isles was made because of the major cost of work likely to have been needed for continued passenger carrying after the vessel's safety certification expired in November. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Read more: Ferguson Marine reveals major new delay to Glen Rosa ferry completion
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Summerhill College team are financial quiz winners
This year's Money Smarts Challenge saw over 1,700 students from 420 school teams across Ireland take part in four virtual events held on March 25th and 26th, with the Summerhill College team of Daniel Rattigan, Jamie O'Hara, Brian Healy and Thibaud Gerard claiming the €2,000 first prize for their school. The four victorious Summerhill College students, along with their teacher Dervilla Casey, were recently presented with their prizes at their school by Connacht Rugby stars Temi Lasisi, Shane Mallon and Colm Reilly. There were four winning schools in total as part of this year's Money Smarts Challenge, along with four runners up and four third-place teams in each of the four virtual events. The Bank of Ireland Money Smarts Challenge is now in its 7th year. Money Smarts is Bank of Ireland's free financial literacy programme for 2nd Level students, with an all-Ireland financial literacy quiz at the centre of the programme. The quiz is designed to help students learn about managing their finances and develop good Financial Wellbeing habits. Commenting on the Money Smarts Quiz Challenge, Rory Carty, Head of Customer Segments Bank of Ireland said: 'The importance of children and young adults learning about finances and savvy money habits cannot be over-emphasised, with Bank of Ireland's latest Financial Wellbeing Index revealing a decline in the Financial Literacy score amongst the youngest cohort surveyed. 'We know that teachers see the benefits of the Money Smarts programme, with over 600,000 students having taken part in a range of initiatives since 2017, helping ensure young people can make smart financial decisions and better manage their money.' I'd like to congratulate the winning team and teacher from Summerhill College on their victory in the 2025 Money Smarts Challenge. And I also want to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all the teachers and students across the country who took part in this year's Money Smarts Challenge, enhancing their financial literacy skills for the future.'
