Naval Service Roles
The main roles of the Naval Service can be divided into two:
Primary Role
National Security
The objective of the Naval Service in this role is to defend the State against armed aggression and to provide for its security, by maintaining a naval and maritime service for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies; internal waters, territorial sea (12 mile limit) and the Irish Sector of the European Economic Zone (200 mile limit) and on the High Seas.
Secondary Roles
- Fishery Protection
- Aid to the Civil Power
- Drug Interdiction
- Maritime Safety
- Diving Operations
- Pollution Control
- Overseas Mission Support
Fishery Protection
The Naval Service is tasked with patrolling the Irish Economic Zone, an area of approximately 132,000 square miles or 16% of the total EU sea fisheries. This represents almost five times the land area of Ireland and encompasses perhaps one of the most productive fisheries in the world. It is an area of great economic importance not only to Ireland but to the whole European Union. Whilst all roles are important the majority of effort is allotted to fishery protection. Annually, the Naval Service boards and carries out thorough inspections on several hundred fishing vessels.
To assist in this highly important role and to assist in the effective implementation of European and national fisheries regulations, the Naval Service established the Naval Supervisory Center as a national recording center for sea fisheries.
Aid to the Civil Power
The Naval Service is available to support the civil authorities as required. Usually the Naval Service assists the Gardai and Customs and Excise in operations of a marine nature. There are also other areas the Naval Service can be called on such as the Cork Harbour Emergency Plan where the Naval Base and its resources may be called on in the event of a major disaster, environmental or otherwise.
Drugs Interdiction
The Naval Service regularly cooperates with Gardai and Customs and Excise in this area. Drugs interdiction is now an integral part of our operational profile. In recent years the Naval Service has been directly involved in major drug seizures at sea, including a seizure of Cannabis Resin worth £20 million in July 1993 off the South West Coast. It was at that time, by far the largest seizure in the history of the State. To date, the Naval Service has acted in support of the Gardai and Customs and Excise in drug operations. In 1994 the Criminal Jurisdiction Act was passed enabling Naval Officers to act as Drug Enforcement Officers. This development greatly enhances the Service's contribution to drug enforcement as it allows a Naval ship to carry out an operation without the requirement to have a Garda or Customs Officials onboard. However, such operations are not unilateral but operate under the command structure of the Joint Task Force involving the Naval Service, Gardai and Customs and Excise.
Maritime Safety
The Naval Service frequently assists other agencies in the area of search and rescue. Ships at sea and the communications center at Haulbowline maintain a 24 hour watch on all distress frequencies. Naval ships at sea are ever ready to respond to distress calls.
Diving Operations
The Naval Base at Haulbowline houses a highly professional diving unit which, in addition to its routine roles, assists civil authorities in a range of activities such as body searches both inland and at sea. The Diving unit's operations include:
- Underwater Ordnance Disposal.
- Surveys and ships hull maintenance
- Body searches
- Assist in Drugs Search/Seizures
- Operation of the re-compression chamber (located in Haulbowline).
Pollution Control
The Naval Service's role in this area may be summarized as follows:
- Monitoring and reporting of pollution for Irish Coast Guard.
- The Irish Coast Guard may call on Naval Service to assist in clearing up of pollution.
- The Naval Service will be empowered to enforce Regulations pertaining to Dumping at Sea.
Overseas Mission Support
Naval Service ships may deploy overseas in support of Irish diplomacy and trade, and to support other elements of the Defence forces engaged in peace support operations. Naval Service personnel may serve overseas for example with United Nations mandated missions.