Ireland is moving to tighten its maritime laws with a major new proposal aimed at safer seas, stronger environmental safeguards and better protections for fishing crews. In a significant gov.ie announcement, Ministers Darragh O’Brien and Seán Canney confirmed the publication of the General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (International Conventions and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, which has now been approved by Government for drafting.
The new legislation, led by the Department of Transport, is designed to bring Ireland into line with updated EU requirements and key international maritime standards. It also signals a broader effort across gov.ie departments to modernise national regulation in areas linked to Transport, Climate Action, Justice and environmental compliance.
gov.ie maritime safety bill: what the new legislation will do
The proposed bill would strengthen Ireland’s maritime framework in several practical ways. According to the Department of Transport, the measures are intended to:
- improve working and living conditions for fishers;
- support international recognition of fishing vessel training and certification;
- enable safer and more environmentally responsible ship recycling;
- create a stronger legal framework for dealing with hazardous wrecks;
- update Irish law to match new EU and International Maritime Organization obligations.
This gov.ie initiative also responds to changes in EU Port State Control and Flag State rules, both of which will apply from 6 July 2027. Those changes require Ireland to update domestic legislation so it reflects the latest mandatory standards under international maritime conventions.
International conventions at the centre of the gov.ie reform
A core part of the bill is the planned ratification and implementation of five international conventions that Ireland has not yet formally adopted.
Key conventions included
- Work in Fishing Convention, 2007
- STCW-F Convention on training and certification for fishing vessel personnel
- Cape Town Agreement on fishing vessel safety
- Hong Kong Convention on safe and environmentally sound ship recycling
- Nairobi Convention on the removal of wrecks
The Hong Kong and Nairobi conventions are especially important because they support EU compliance while also strengthening marine environmental protection. That makes the bill relevant not only to maritime operators, but also to agencies and sectors concerned with Health, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Why fishing vessels and crew standards matter
One of the most notable aspects of the gov.ie proposal is its focus on fishing vessel safety. Under revised EU inspection rules, fishing vessels can now be included as a voluntary inspection category in foreign ports. That means Irish vessels may face closer scrutiny when operating internationally.
To prepare for that shift, the legislation aims to support stronger alignment with global standards. The Work in Fishing Convention would improve welfare, accommodation and employment protections for crews. Ratifying the STCW-F Convention would help ensure qualifications for personnel on larger fishing vessels are recognised internationally. The Cape Town Agreement, due to enter into force globally in February 2027, would add another layer of international safety alignment, even though Ireland already applies higher standards through existing EU rules.
Other legal changes and what happens next
The General Scheme also includes miscellaneous maritime provisions such as passenger counting rules, reporting obligations and technical amendments to existing laws including the Merchant Shipping Act 1966, Maritime Safety Act 2005 and Harbours Acts.
For the wider public, this gov.ie update shows how Irish law is being prepared for future maritime risks, from ship recycling to wreck removal and seafarer welfare. It also reflects the kind of joined-up regulatory approach often seen across bodies such as the Revenue Commissioners, An Garda Síochána, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), the National Transport Authority (NTA), the Department of the Taoiseach and agencies connected to Public Expenditure and Social Protection.
In short, the new bill is about more than compliance. The gov.ie maritime safety plan is a strategic step toward safer fishing operations, cleaner seas and a more modern legal framework for Ireland’s maritime economy.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
