Mr. Colin Murray:

I can only speak for my unit, but certainly yes. As officer in command, OIC, I would not let anybody go to sea unless I was happy that the person had completed the minimum hours and the minimum competencies. The Coast Guard has standards for boat launches, boat crews and standards of boats, and they are quite strict. I am not familiar with the Naval Service standards. To be a coxswain in the coast guard in Howth could take five years.