Naval Service - Naval College
The primary function of The Naval College is to Train Naval personnel for effective naval operations in Defence of the State's interests. The Officer Commanding the Naval College reports directly to FOCNS on all matters related to Naval Service training.
The Naval College inducts, trains and educates Naval Service personnel for the challenges of naval life in the 21st Century. These challenges include an ability to respond effectively to the legal, political, economic and scientific challenges that will arise in an ever-changing global arena.
This capability is achieved through basic, continuous and specialist training and education benchmarked on the highest relevant standard.
The Naval College is broken into four sub schools as follows:
- College Headquarters
- Line Training School
- Technical Training School
- Officer Training School
The Military training takes place at the Naval College facilities at the Naval Base Haulbowline in the centre of Cork Harbour.
The non-Military training takes place nearby at the state of the art National Maritime College of Ireland NMCI in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork.
College Headquarters
The College Headquarters supervises, directs and co-ordinates all activities of the constituent schools.
Technical Training School
The Technical Training School is responsible for the supervision of all Naval Service technical personnel including Apprentice trainee technicians on work experience ashore/afloat and studying at external military or civilian educational centres. It also provides technical training to other sections of the college. Within the Technical Training School is the Damage Control and Fire Fighting Section which operates a fire fighting and damage control facility and provides theoretical and practical training in Damage Control and Fire Fighting skills. Also within the Technical Training School is the Mechanical Engineering Section which provides all Naval Service mechanical engineering training, including apprentice training. There is also an Electric/Electronic Section which provides all Naval Service electrical/electronic engineering training, including apprentice training.
Line Training School
The Line Training School provides all internal Naval Service other ranks line training and Naval Service operations training. Non Commissioned Officer and Recruit Training, Operations and Seamanship Training, Gunnery Training and Navigation/Flight Ops/Under Sea Warfare Training are all provided for in the Line Training School.
Officer Training School
Officer Training School is responsible for the co-ordination of all Officer training catering for Direct Entry Officers, Cadet Entry Officers and Commissioned from the Ranks Officers. The school also supervises Officer Under Training (OUT) at civilian third level institutes and undergoing on the job training in units of the Naval Service.
National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI)
The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) is a 3rd Level Institution which caters for the non-military education and training needs of the Naval Service and the education and training of Irelands Merchant Navy. The establishment of the NMCI with its state of the art equipment and facilities has meant that we now have a facility that is second to none anywhere in the world for the education and training of mariners.
The Irish Naval Service prides itself on its professionalism and its adoption of cutting edge technology in order to meet the challenges provided by its wide range of duties and responsibilities.