Posted: January 9, 2012
Workshop on “STCW10 – Planning for Future Training Needs”
January 18, 2012 at 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
National Maritime College of Ireland, Cork
The National Maritime College of Ireland cordially invites you to a workshop on ‘STCW10 – Planning for Future Training Needs’ on Wed 18th Jan 2012. This workshop will be held under the auspices of the MarLeaNet project.
The goal of the workshop is to highlight the benefits and challenges of planning and delivering comprehensive training for STCW10 under three themes:
– Impact of STCW F on Fisheries Training
– Delivering Refresher Courses under STCW 10
– Human Element – Learning from Best Practices in other Industries and countries
The European programme called MARitime LEArning NETwork (MARLEANET /2010-2013), headed by the European Maritime Training Center (CEFCM) in Concarneau, aims at developing a training and education network for the maritime sector in France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland.
This event is free, but registration is required. To register please contact Gráinne Lynch grainne.lynch@nmci.ie or on +353 21 433 5716.
Labels: STCW10, STCWF, Maritime training, Maritime Education
Event Organizer: Gráinne Lynch (Research Development at National Maritime College of Ireland)
E: grainne.lynch@nmci.ie
T: +353 21 433 5716
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Posted: January 6, 2012

Mr Stephan Wrage from SkySails will make a presentation on his company’s innovative product – SkySails in the NMCI Auditorium at 5pm on Wednesday 18th January.
This event will be preceded by an international workshop on STCW10 under the auspices of the Marleanet project.
SkySails GmbH is the market and technology leader in the field of automated towing kite systems. Some 80 employees representing a wide range of disciplines and specialties – from aerospace engineers, to software developers, shipbuilders, management professionals and CNC operators – all help to develop, manufacture and market the worldwide patented SkySails technology.
SkySails kites are the key technology for capturing the vast potential of high-altitude winds and SkySails is the first company in the world that has succeeded in developing towing-kite technology into an industrial application.
The company’s main business segment SkySails Marine offers wind propulsion systems for ships. The latest product generation SKS C 320 can replace up to 2 MW of the main engine’s propulsion power. The company’s second business segment SkySails Power develops and markets systems for generating power from high-altitude wind.
SkySails was established in 2001 by the graduate industrial engineer Stephan Wrage, and Thomas Meyer, who holds a degree in shipbuilding and offshore engineering. In addition to its headquarters in Hamburg, SkySails also operates a production and testing centre in the Hanseatic town of Wismar.

SkySails has a strong international network of investors and strategic partners. SkySails also promotes and maintains longstanding development partnerships with leading suppliers, such as with DSM Dyneema and Gleistein Ropes for producing the ropes, and North Sails NZ for manufacturing the towing kites.
Main investors are the ship financing company Oltmann Gruppe, the marine engine supplier Zeppelin Power Systems and the Dutch Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company Royal DSM N.V.. SkySails’ investors also include numerous renowned shipping companies and private individuals.
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Posted: December 21, 2011
GAC Training and Service Solutions (GTSS) Marketing Executive Joanne Kelleher was interviewed for the January 2012 edition of GAC World. In the interview Mrs Kelleher outlines the importance of training even in economically difficult times and talks about the ever growing presence of women in the maritime industry.

Click here to view interview.
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Posted: December 15, 2011
The final article for the Port Strategy was released recently. Read the full article below:
“Yes, you can do a Marine Risk Assessment, even quite a sophisticated one, which doesn’t go into sufficient detail or misses the point entirely says Captain Stephen Gyi of GAC Training and Service Solutions.
Unfortunately, this ‘missing the point’ can be less an oversight and more of a “commercially driven decision”, he adds.
Outlining a basic process, he explains that a group of experts identify the probable marine related hazards (HAZID) and resulting environmentally related hazards (ENVID), including emergencies such as vessels losing power, colliding or running aground. Obviously, “those risks with potential to endanger life or damage the environment are particularly important to capture”.
The levels of consequence and the likelihood of occurrence are filled out, often on a five-by-five risk matrix. From this the team returns to the beginning and assesses each hazard in turn, which provides a value of either high, medium or low risk, depending on the chosen values for that location, type of cargo and vessel involved, and the scenarios are re-run with projected mitigation measures in place. While there are almost always measures that can be adopted, they usually come with a cost attached, so the idea is get all associated risks down to what industry recognises as ‘as low as reasonably practical’ or ALARP. read more…
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Posted: November 30, 2011
The launch of a major maritime and energy resource cluster on November 25th 2011 by An Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny, will affect the transformation of the future development of Ireland as a maritime nation. The Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) is a tripartite alliance between University College Cork (UCC), Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and the Irish Naval Service (INS). The IMERC vision is to become a research and commercial cluster of world standing, by realising Ireland’s potential in the maritime and energy markets of tomorrow.
Speaking at the launch, An Taoiseach commended all those involved from UCC, CIT and the Irish Naval Service for their vision in developing a new research and commercial campus in Ringaskiddy Co. Cork. The initial phase will see the delivery of 70 new research jobs by 2014, with industry suites, incubation units and enterprise centres to be developed as part of an extended campus adjacent to the NMCI by 2016.
Enda Kenny, An Taoiseach explains: “IMERC is an initiative that demonstrates the ability of our public institutions to respond to the national interest. IMERC is characterised by the way that these three institutions are mobilising their best minds to focus on new research and economic opportunities for maritime Ireland.”
Dr Val Cummins, IMERC Director explains: “The aim of IMERC is to promote Ireland as a world-renowned research and development location that will unlock Ireland’s maritime and energy potential. The creation of research posts will require a close working relationship with state agencies such as the IDA and Enterprise Ireland, and support from local bodies such as Port of Cork and Cork County Council”. According to Dr Cummins “the Taoiseach’s endorsement of IMERC is testimony to the national interest which IMERC aims to serve. This boils down to developing an environment where innovation can take place, creating new ideas, ventures, and jobs in support of the maritime economy of Ireland”.
Also at the launch, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Mr Simon Coveney, stated that: “IMERC is an engine for economic growth, both for Cork and for the country as a whole. A unique aspect of IMERC is the involvement of the Irish Naval Service, which provides expertise, equipment and infrastructure in support of SMEs and new commercial ventures. This critical mass will be brought to bear on the realisation of the IMERC strategy, which will see the integration of industry partners across all IMERC activities”.
The IMERC Strategy 2011-2016, describes the plans in detail, and can be accessed from the website www.imerc.ie
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