Boat Launch.

The largest New Vessel, under the Programme for the Renewal of theWhitefish Fleet to be built to date arrived in Castletownbere recently.  The 28 metre 'Dawn  Ross' costing £2.2m was launched by Minister Joe Walsh at Castletownbere for Neil Minihane.  The boat, called after two of his four Children, was built in Armon Shipyards in Navia, Spain where she was the first of six vessels being built by that boatyard for Irish Skippers.  Neil already owns two other boats, the 'Sarah David' (also named after his children) and the Atlantic Venture.  Neil's 22 year old son David will be the main skipper on the new vessel. 

This vessel is the third new vessel to join the Castletownbere Fleet under this Renewal Programme.   Earlier in the year, the 24 metre 'Ardent' owned by Mick and Johnny Orpen and previous to that, Peter O'Sullivan of Shellfish de la Mer launched the 13 metre 'Celtic Dawn 1'.  Neil Minihane's brother Gerard will be launching a sister ship to the 'Dawn Ross' sometime in July.

Another addittion to the fleet recently was the trawler built in1990 but refurbished in 2000 for Ebbie Sheehan.  The 24.5 metre 'Boy Jason' joined the Castletownbere Fishing Fleet in early May.

We wish all the owners, skippers and crews good fishing and safe passages in the future.