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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Posted: November 16, 2011
Brian Purcell – judge on TV3’s The Apprentice will speak at a sales conference entitled “Let’s Get Munster Selling” on Wednesday November 30th at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy.
The conference will provide a unique opportunity to hear recognised experts in the area of business development and customer loyalty who will share successful strategies for maximising sales performance in terms of planning, sales process, customer acquisition, using cloud effectively, customer loyalty & retention and social networking.
Other speakers who will share their experiences and give their professional advice throughout the day are Kieran Moynihan Entrepreneur in Residence at the Cork Institute of Technology, Nicola Byrne Entrepreneur and Founder of 11890 and Former International Rugby Hooker and Entrepreneur Shane Byrne who won 41 caps for Ireland.
All presenters are recognised experts in the areas of Customer Acquisition, Entrepreneurship, Customer Based Marketing, Sales Process Design, Professional Performance Analysis, Growing your Customers, and Building Winning Teams.
The Entrepreneur Skillnet has put together a team ranging from Entrepreneurs, Business & Sales Experts, International Sport and Business Education who are the best in their field. The day is broken into four sections: Conference, Workshops, Networking opportunities and Open Panel Discussion. Delegates have the opportunity of attending two of a choice of four lively interactive workshops including “Planning and Designing an Effective Sales Process” and “Build Lifelong Customers with World Class Customer Service”.
This premier networking event is aimed at the CEO, Sales Director, Sales Manager, Business Owner, Entrepreneur, and all who are looking for ways of growing their business in the present climate.
Attendees will also get the chance to have a tour of the NMCI which is Europe’s most advanced maritime college. The tour will consist of a storm at sea demonstration in the environmental pool and delegates will also get to cruise into Sydney Harbour in our 360° degree bridge simulator.
The conference costs €100 per delegate (early bird €80), to book log onto www.ryanacademy.ie or call (01) 7006762.
Image credit: Neil Danton
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Posted: October 28, 2011
It gives us great joy to announce that the open day this week broke all our previous records. We had in excess of 750 registered visitors come to the college throughout the day.
In addition, we had 40-50 representatives from companies/organisations and 16 stands in the sports hall.
The NMCI courses on display were the B.Sc Nautical Science, B.Eng in Marine & Plant Engineering, B.Eng. Marine Electotechnology and a Higher Certificate in Nautical Studies.
Visitors arrived from: Culldaff, Moville and Carndonagh, Co Donegal, Carna and An Cheatru Rua, Co na Gaillimhe, Dublin, Louth, Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, Cork City, North Cork, West Cork, Kerry and many other areas.

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Posted: October 21, 2011

NMCI are proud to announce that their site has been nominated for a prestigious Web Award.
The commercial division of the National Maritime College of Ireland was nominated in the ‘Best Student Web or Social Media Project’ category at the Irish Web Awards which takes place in Dublin on October 22.
The site which includes details for our academic courses, the Irish Naval Service activates, professional maritime short courses, offshore courses and general information on the NMCI.
The nomination reflects the strong social media presence the commercial division now possesses in the form of YouTube, Vimeo Twitter, LinkedIn and a blog.
The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) is the first third level college in the country to be built under the Government’s Public-Private Partnership scheme. A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is a partnership between the public and private sector for the purpose of delivering a project or service traditionally provided by the public sector. NMCI specialise in offshore training and offshore courses.
The award show will be MC’d by RTE 2 DJ Rick O’Shea and includes a performance by Cork’s finest comedian Colm O’Regan.
Best of luck to all the other finalists!
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Posted: October 19, 2011
GAC Training and Service Solutions (GTSS) launches high value bunker course to increase understanding and improve efficiencies
GAC Training and Service Solutions (GTSS), one of the world’s leading training providers for seafarers and shore-based shipping personnel, today announced the launch of its inaugural “Complete Guide to Bunkering” course, to be held from 22 to 24 November at the $100 million National Maritime Training College of Ireland in Cork.
Led by leading bunker market experts Robin Meech and Chris Fisher, this new course is designed to reflect the latest trends facing the bunker suppliers, traders and brokers, as well as bunker fuel purchasers, class societies, surveyors and other bunkering stakeholders. The course reflects the new importance of bunker fuel as the major cost for the shipping industry – with fuel costs having risen 600% over the past 10 years and representing over 70% of most shipping companies’ costs.
The new course has been designed by bunker industry expert Meech, managing director of Marine and Energy Consulting and co-author of “Outlook for Bunker Fuel Oil and Heavy Fuel Oil to 2030” published in July 2011. Focusing heavily on delivering value for money, the course content encompasses the full breadth of the bunker industry, including: history and background, the latest regulations (SOx, NOx and Greenhouse Gases), abatement and energy efficiency, demand and pricing, LNG (LNG training)and other alternative fuels, the latest fuels standards (ISO 8217:2010), sampling and surveys, metering, price risk management and an introduction to the legal framework and contracts.
Robin Meech explained:
“The modern bunker market is a constantly changing operating environment – increasing prices, environmental regulation, record prices, poor credit, growing demand for metering, the potential of LNG powered vessels; all of which directly influences the decisions taken by those operating across the full spectrum of the bunker supply chain. This course reflects the bunker market as it is today and GTSS should be commended for looking at the bunker industry and allowing it to use its state-of-the-art training facilities.
“Given the sheer scale of relative cost for bunker fuel in the modern shipping market, it is not only the buyer and seller of bunkers that play a crucial role in maximising profitability. Expanding the depth of people’s knowledge right across the value chain, including board members, can help provide them with a better understanding of the bigger picture, as well as the consequences of their actions, enabling them to make more informed decisions with confidence. Ultimately this improves the overall efficiency of end-to-end operations and allows organisations to benefit from the associated commercial savings.”
The course has been created paying close attention to the current trends and likely future of the bunker market. It combines elements of strategic long-term thinking with technical and regulatory requirements, as well as the day-to-day realities of bunker sales, procurement and delivery.
Conor Mowlds, Director, GTSS said:
“With bunker prices at an all time high the bunker purchaser has a more influential role than ever before. The viability of many a company is resting on the successful purchase of bunkers at the right price, and when done effectively this can give an organisation a competitive edge. In today’s operating environment, increased understanding can indeed provide competitive advantage, which is why GTSS has designed the best value for money course in the industry.”
The first GTSS ‘Complete Guide to Bunkering’ course will run from 22-24 November at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Cork – a 45 minute plane journey from London’s Heathrow, and serviced by flights from Geneva, Lisbon, Amsterdam and other international destinations. The course costs Euro 1,645 per person and includes three nights accommodation, breakfast, lunch and daily refreshments, a welcome drinks reception and a networking meal on the final evening. Other evening activities can be arranged for attendees. An early-bird rate of Euro 1,495 is available until 28th October. For more information please visit www.nmci.ie/gtssbunkercourse
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