MERC3, the Ringaskiddy based Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster, has been rebranded as IMERC, the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster.
A result of a tripartite alliance between University College Cork, the Cork Institute of Technology, and the Irish Naval Service, IMERC aims to harness and integrate diverse research and industry expertise through the development of an innovation cluster.
Launched in March 2010, specific targets for IMERC are for the creation of 70 new research jobs by 2014, five companies incorporated by 2015, and two foreign direct investment clients secured by 2016.
To date IMERC has secured a funding package of €14 million for UCC’s Beaufort Laboratory on the IMERC Campus and has already created 15 new research jobs.
The first FP7 projects have been secured for the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), and the first Foreign Direct Investment client, a US-based naval architecture firm, will be announced shortly.
The IMERC initiative comes at the dawn of a new era for maritime Ireland, stimulated by the growing realisation of the economic opportunities around maritime and energy, and in particular with regard to marine renewables.
See www.IMERC.ie for more details of this fascinating venture which will place Cork Harbour at the heart of maritime research and innovation well into the future.
Newly added:
Cannonball Run charity event
Half price walking tours of Spike & Spike Island Open Day
Free entry to Fort Camden
Download the Programme of Events
Cork Harbour Open Day Set to Be a Great Day for All
This year Cork Harbour Open Day is set to be a great day with so much happening all around the harbour. Now in its third year, Cork Harbour Open Day has grown and each year offers more and more activities both on and off the water. The day itself is a great day for people to see exactly what Cork Harbour has to offer, and this year is no exception with the second largest natural harbour in the world will playing host to the Cobh to Blackrock sailing race, kayaking on the River Lee, crab fishing in Cobh, and for the first time a free open day at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Ringaskiddy and Fastnet Lines MV Julia open to the public for tours and lunch.
Cork Harbour Community Radio will broadcast throughout the day on frequency 98.3FM live from the NMCI. This community radio initiative is part of a response to the great sense of community developing in the Cork Harbour area and has been made possible by the combined effort and support of many harbour side groups and organisations.
This year will also see the first ferry shuttle service operated by ‘Whale of a Time’ and sponsored by the Port of Cork and NMCI running in the lower harbour calling at Ringaskiddy, Monkstown, Cobh, Aghada and Crosshaven. Free to anyone who wishes to use it, this ferry will be a great way to see the harbour and get around to the different locations and attractions.
Visitors to Ringaksiddy will be given the opportunity to go on a free guided tour around the National Maritime College of Ireland and see their panoramic bridge ship simulators, the survival pool and the marine workshops. Staying in Ringaksiddy, at the Deepwater Quay, Fastnet Lines’ MV Julia will open to the public giving people the chance to go onboard the ferry and even have some lunch if they wish. In the evening, Cork Corona Film Festival will hold a fundraiser themed the ‘Amazing Cork Maritime Experience’ at the NMCI from 5pm onwards. Tickets for this event are available at https://corkfilmfest.ticketsolve.com/shows/126518308/events
In Cobh, Cunard’s MV Queen Elizabeth will make her maiden call to the Port of Cork and to coincide with this visit, Cunard and the Port of Cork have organised a Lusitania Memorial Service in Cobh led by the Captain of Queen Elizabeth. To add to the occasion, Band 1 Southern Brigade will play in the promenade after the service. Both events are free and open to all.
In the afternoon ‘See You in Cobh’ will run a crab fishing competition for kids. The Irish Coastguard, RNLI and the Search and Rescue Helicopter will perform a search and rescue demonstration in the lower harbour near Monsktown and Ringaskiddy at 3pm. At 5pm when MV Queen Elizabeth departs a ‘Fond Farewell’ is being organised to encourage spectators around the harbour to wave this great ocean liner off as she departs Cork harbour. Great locations around the harbour to see the departure are Roches Point, Weavers Point, Camden Fort, Cobh town or Whitegate.
Spike Island will be open to the public all day, with boat rides operating from Kennedy Pier in Cobh to the island throughout the day. Live music, face painters, clowns and jugglers will be on the island to entertain and visitors to the island are being encouraged to bring their own picnic for the day.
In Crosshaven, the Rescue Camden Committee have organised a free open day from 12-6pm. The fort will host the Airborne 101 re-enactors and a weapons display and a ‘Port in Pictures’ photograph exhibition. Camden Fort is a perfect location to watch MV Queen Elizabeth as she departs Cobh at 5pm. Crosshaven will also hold their annual triathlon at 4pm.
In Cork City, the Irish naval vessel L.E.Ciara will be open to the public for free tours of the ship from 11am to 4pm. Also in the morning visitors will get to see the amazing 150 cars taking part in this year’s Cannonball Run in aid of Barretstown Kids charity, as they depart Custom House quay at 11am. Blackrock Castle Observatory will present their theatrical tours bringing the colourful story of the castle to life from 400 years ago to present day. A great venue for all the family and a super location to watch the Cobh to Blackrock sailing race, as the yachts head up the river.
In Aghada, there will be tales and stories of the south east side of the harbour throughout the day held in Rosies Bar. Visitors can use the ferry shuttle which would take them to Aghada’s new pontoon facility recently opened.
Aimed at embracing what Cork Harbour has to offer, the Cork Harbour Open Day aims to raise awareness of the different activities available for people in the harbour both on and off the water. It’s a great day for all the family with many events free to everyone.
The idea for a Harbour Open Day emerged from discussions between various stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the Integrated Strategy for the Harbour. A group comprising representatives from UCC, City and County Councils and the Port of Cork set about working together to engage users of the Harbour and to organise the Open Day. For more information on Cork Harbour Open Day and see the full programme of events visit www.corkharbour.ie or email harbourevents@corkharbour.ie for information.
Cork Harbour Open Day, Saturday 10th September
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The National Maritime College of Ireland will be opening their doors to the public on Cork Harbour Open Day from 12pm – 5pm and they will be providing free guided tours of their superb facilities.
The tour includes a sea survival pool showcase that can demonstrate world-class special effects that includes wave generation and strobe lighting.
The multi million euro 270-degree Kongsberg simulator will also be on show. This will be opened to the public for the first time and is capable of simulating our very own harbour along with famous ports such as New York and Sydney harbour. This family friendly event will also have a face painter along with local food producers set up around the campus.
Cork Harbour Community Radio will be broadcasting from the foyer with a mix of music, chat and news from around the harbour area.
There is a possibility of a water taxi/shuttle ferry between surrounding harbour areas including NMCI-Monsktown-Crosshaven-Cobh….please keep an eye on the NMCI Blog for further updates!
Corona Cork Film Festival will host a fundraiser in association with NMCI Services and the Port of Cork at 5pm on Cork Harbour Open day, which takes place on September 10th. The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) will host the event which is entitled ‘The Amazing Cork Maritime Experience” this will be an evening of the arts, film and entertainment.
The fundraiser includes arrival via a Harbour Cruise, a Maritime Art Exhibition, Music on the lawn, a selection of Maritime Short-Films, Guided Tours of the College’s Facilities, and finally ‘The Great Cork Boat Race’ which is a remote controlled boat races with prizes.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Mr. Simon Coveney T.D was at the NMCI to officially launch Cork Harbour Open Day 2011. This is the third year of event which aims to embrace and showcase what Cork Harbour has to offer and organisers are hopeful that the wide range of events will attract many people.
Purchase tickets for the fundraiser
NMCI Blog
This year Cork Harbour Open Day will have its very own radio station, broadcasting on 98.3FM and online. Cork Harbour Community Radio will broadcast from 10am until 6pm, live from the foyer of the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy, and will feature music, guest interviews and lots more. Of course it will keep you up to date on all the activities happening in the harbour on the 10th. The broadcast will be repeated on Sunday 11th and will thereafter be made available as a series of podcasts.
Presenters Kieran Hurley and Conor Lyons from Cork Campus Radio in UCC, and musician Ken Cotter will anchor a series of shows throughout the day. Each show will be peppered with tasty vignettes of harbour life.
This once-off radio project has been developed in response to the growing sense of community developing within the entire harbour area and may very well be a taste of things to come!!
Drop in to the studio on the day during the NMCI’s open day between 12 midday and 4pm. Text the station on the day on 086 7839800, or keep in touch via CorkHarbour.ie’s Twitter and Facebook pages (linked in the banner above).
A link to the podcast will be available on CorkHarbour.ie
