Foynes Yacht Club in the Shannon estuary has had to cancel the prestigious West of Ireland offshore races next week as a result of oil spillage. It claims that this will mean a major loss of income.
The spillage followed a ship accident in the port.
The club estimates it could lose around €40,000, and the National Mermaid Championships due to be held in August are also in doubt.
The club spokesman, Mr Gerry Ryan, said yesterday that it was doubtful if there would be any sailing in Foynes this year, which would be a major loss to the area in spin-offs.
There would also be a loss in mooring fees.
Racing on Wednesday nights has been cancelled and a loss adjustor has met the club commodore, Mr Frank Dennison, to assess damage that the oil spillage has done to the marina and to investigate the possibility of compensation.
The club claims that oil damage was done to about 10 craft. All boats have been taken out of the marina as well as other craft moored outside the marina.
The club alleged that the floating boom surrounding the vessel did not work satisfactorily in containing the oil, and a new marina put in place about six weeks ago also suffered oil damage.
The harbour master of the Shannon Foynes Port Company, Capt Alan Coghlan, said any oil spillage was regrettable but was a matter for discussion between the complainants and the ship's insurers.
"The port has no liability whatsoever," he added.
The harbour authorities said about 30 tonnes of oil leaked from the ship, which was carrying 300 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, 30 tonnes of gas oil and 11 tonnes of lubricating oil. The authorities claimed the oil was contained and recovered and that the boom was in tact and a second boom was put down at the weekend.
The Nassau-registered and French-owned Clipper Cheyenne, a semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel, sank during ballasting on June 3rd. Most of the oil was contained by booms, but a small quantity came ashore.
It is hoped the vessel can be refloated on a spring tide on Sunday.