With large-scale wind turbine projects being mooted off the coast of Ireland, Ireland must seize the opportunity to train and support the huge workforce needed to complete the project, says the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) said the president of the school.
Paul Hegarty is a former naval officer who commanded ships and trained fellow officers across the fleet. He recently retired from a career in the Irish Defense Forces and is currently Principal of a Cork-based college.
The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) is part of Munster University of Technology (MTU) and is based on a large campus in Ringaskiddy, on the Port of Cork.
The property overlooks the naval base on Hallbowline Island and also the town of Cobh.
on a recent visit journal Navy recruits were seen being trained in a specialized flood and firefighting training unit that mimics the structure of a ship. The university’s many simulators also had civilian sailor apprentices operating ships on a mock bridge.
Simulators are so advanced that ship captains regularly use them to test conditions before large and tricky maneuvers, and to reenact maritime accidents to understand the causes of accidents. I am.
This impressive facility also includes a pool where you can recreate the disorienting life-and-death situations of the Atlantic Ocean. A demonstration of its capabilities saw giant fans, wave machines, flashing strobe lights and water spray simulate the high winds of a rainstorm.
The nearby Harbin Research Center is participating in 40 EU-funded projects totaling €125 million and is specifically tasked with developing ways to ensure the robustness and safety of critical maritime infrastructure.
NMCI is a very pragmatic institution. There’s also a full-size mock-up of a ship’s engine room, workshops for welders and electricians, and even a diving tank to train divers in underwater working techniques.
target
As part of the government’s climate change targets, 70% of its electricity needs will be generated from renewable energy by 2030.
Seven projects have been granted permission to proceed with the first phase of each development.
Current wind energy projects are primarily scheduled to be installed off the East Coast, with one of them expected to be installed off the West Coast.
The projects are Oriel Wind Park, Arklow Bank II, Bray Bank, Kish Bank, North Irish Sea Alley, Codling Wind Park and the West Coast-based Scard Rocks project.
For that strategy to materialize, maritime jobs will need to increase dramatically, and that’s where Hegarty and his team at the National Maritime University come in.
This isn’t the first time this website has spoken to Hegarty. Last time he was in command of the LÉ William Butler Yates, when the Army Ranger Wing (ARW), the Irish Air Force and the Irish Navy were training to board a large cargo ship. The Irish Sea off the coast of Wexford and Wicklow.
This was the proof of concept that enabled ARW to recently begin dramatic armed disembarkations on the MV Matthew off the coast of Cork and Waterford.
Dr Paul Hegarty, President of the National Maritime University of Ireland; Niall O’Connor/Journal
Niall O’Connor / Journal / Journal
The Cobh native is reflecting on the hundreds of years of maritime history in the port of Cork and across Ireland as NMCI prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
He says his role will be a key driver in bringing the university into the modern era, as a boom in offshore energy projects will see Ireland build large offshore wind farms to meet future energy needs. I believe.
Mr Hegarty believes there will be a major boom in the Irish maritime sector as marine renewable energy grows.
“We have more than enough capacity to meet the needs of the country and are able to develop new courses and work with industry to develop specific courses that industry may need. We are starting to collaborate,” he said.
The university has up to 400 full-time students and apprentices studying for a variety of roles. These include the Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering, Electronic Technology Engineering, and the Bachelor of Marine Science.
NMCI offers a part-time Bachelor of Business and Master’s level program in Supply Chain Management with Mixed Distribution, a key profession that supports the domestic supply chains needed by the ORE industry.
There are also 3,500 professional maritime courses each year, including seafarers recertifying their voyage tickets on all commercial ships, including cargo ships, cruise ships and ferry ships. Hegarty said the numbers continue to rise and the university continues to recover from the post-COVID-19 downturn.
The academic said modern vessels and generally good remuneration packages were driving the increase in the appeal of a career at sea, although commensurate with the significant safety responsibilities of large ships.
“You get to see a lot of the world and experience different cultures, and that’s the career and experience that a lot of people have,” he said.
Inside the university simulator. NMCI
NMCI
expansion
That expansion and revenue potential is already being realized outside his office window. Mr Hegarty gave the example of a local shipping company which is planning to expand its facilities at the former Verolme shipyard in Cobh to facilitate maintenance vessels for turbines.
There are also plans to significantly expand the nearby Cork Port Container Terminal.
The former naval officer said the local region and Ireland as a whole could benefit from a growing ecosystem of maritime businesses, given Cork Harbor is the second largest natural port after Sydney and the region’s past maritime history. I believe this means that the time is ripe for receiving it.
The port also has a huge pharmaceutical industry, with giants like Pfizer and Eli Lilly just a few of its factories, but Hegarty explains how the sector took hold. He said there are lessons to be learned.
He said that over time, Cork Harbor had become a major region for pharmaceutical production with a highly educated workforce.
“What I’m saying is there’s no reason why Cork shouldn’t do the same in the maritime sector,” he said.
Mr Hegarty said it stands to reason that there could be significant synergies between the Maritime University and the surrounding port infrastructure.
“We have a maritime university. We have port construction facilities. The second largest natural port in the world. We have an educated workforce. We have a workforce that is well-educated, on the Atlantic Ocean and on the south coast of Ireland. can also be accessed.
“But on top of that, we also have Ireland’s only oil refinery, rail network and one of the state’s major power stations, so we have ready access to the electricity grid,” he added.
Mr Hegarty said the university was working with other interested institutions and businesses around the port to consider future projects. One of his concepts concerns future fuels such as LNG, ammonia, and methanol.
An example of the so-called jack-up barge “Kraken.” It is carrying wind turbines for the Walney offshore wind farm project off the UK coast. alamy stock photo
alamy stock photo
key enabler
One of the key enablers of that huge construction project is the onshore facilities that accommodate the specialized vessels tasked with building and maintaining the infrastructure.
The university will soon launch a nine- to 12-week maritime skills conversion course for fishing fleet captains to qualify them to work in the commercial sector.
Mr Hegarty was keen to stress that the giant wind turbines on the surface were just one part of a huge complex, with cables connecting each unit and carrying the charge back to the ground.
“What many people don’t realize is that while installing turbines costs a lot of money, the underground network is actually the most expensive and critical part.
“Underground networks are a key element in the overall marine renewable energy sector. This is an important area and we are actively training pilots for remotely operated vehicles used in underwater hydrographic surveys,” he said. Stated.
Mr Hegarty said Ireland was not currently training highly skilled pilots to operate the remotely operated submarines and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) that monitor the network of cables. The university is going to start that training.
“It is a natural fit with providing to maintain national security and ensure the security of Ireland’s critical national infrastructure.
“There are second- and third-order impacts there that benefit the country. By protecting the national energy requirements, it feeds into Ireland’s security requirements,” he added.
Students learn how to escape from a sinking helicopter. NMCI
NMCI
growth
Mr Hegarty’s ambitions are not limited to the Cork site, with the idea being to propose to the state authorities that there should be satellite National Maritime University teaching facilities on at least the east and west coasts.
Hegarty believes NMCI has the ability to provide that, but the state should consider providing much-needed funding.
“Ireland is a small country, but given sufficient resources it is well placed to meet demand, and it is clear that decision-makers have a key role to play in making this happen.
“It was established 20 years ago for maritime education and training in Ireland and is working and delivering results, but we are now aiming to take it to the next level.
“Now is the time to rethink NMCI’s vision and prepare for the evolution taking place across our nation’s maritime economy and the broader international shipping industry,” he added.
