Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My primary concern regarding maritime transport is safety. I must ensure the appropriate safety standards are in place, regardless of the particular sector involved.

Ireland applies the internationally recognised standards to work on vessels servicing the offshore renewable energy sector - the standards of the International Maritime Organisation’s International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers qualifications, often abbreviated to STCW. Particular training and certification is required to work in this sector, and it is open to anyone, including fishermen, to undertake the training and attain the requisite certification.

Courses leading to certificates of competency for various positions - for example, master, mate, officer of the watch or chief engineer - are provided mainly by the National Maritime College of Ireland. In addition, my Department approves a panel of training course providers for various ancillary STCW courses which lead to certificates of proficiency. The details of these providers and the training they offer is available in marine notice No. 33 of 2013 on the Department’s website, which was last updated on 26 June 2014.

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