Posted: March 22, 2020
Notice to all Shipowners, Fishing Vessel Owners, Agents, Shipmasters, Skippers, Fishers, Yachtsmen and Seafarers.
This Marine Notice sets out the temporary measures being put in place in relation to the validity of seafarers’ documents impacted as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Click here to read the Maine Notice in full to see if who qualifies for an extension.
Our 2020 course schedules are available to book here .
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Posted: March 16, 2020

The disruption caused by COVID-19 will prevent some OPITO delegates from completing their refresher training before their current cert’s expiry date.
To facilitate such circumstances OPITO have on their website the “OPITO Certificate Extension Policy”.
The associated forms are also available on the OPITO website or via links from the policy.
Take time to read the policy. Many of the enquiries our admin team have received are well covered within the “OPITO Certificate Extension Policy”.
We greatly appreciate the efforts of those working in the industry both Onshore and Offshore. Stay safe everyone.
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Posted: March 12, 2020
Due to the ongoing nation-wide situation surrounding COVID-19, we have received a directive from the Dept. of Education to close the facility at the NMCI.
We regret to inform you that all NMCI Services, GTSS & SNO courses from the 16th to 29th March have now been cancelled.
We will continue to take instruction from the Dept. of Education and monitor the ongoing situation and will be in touch with you again with further updates.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding at this time.
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Posted: March 3, 2020

Exciting opportunity to complete a Navigation Assessor course at the NMCI.
The Nautical Institute Ireland Branch & Irish Institute of Master Mariners, in association with the Department of Maritime Studies NMCI, are holding a seminar entitled “Seafarer Wellness – Are the signals being read?” on March 26th at the NMCI.
In advance of this seminar the Nautical Institute will be delivering a Navigation Assessor course at the NMCI on March 24th & 25th.
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Posted: February 20, 2020

Our history
GAC Training & Service Solutions Limited (GTSS) was launched in February 2010, aiming to provide cost saving and innovative training solutions for the LNG industry and other maritime sectors. GTSS combines GAC’s global reach, over sixty years of maritime expertise and powerful branding with the National Maritime College of Ireland’s (NMCI) skilled lecturers and instructors.
GAC’s business philosophy is about people, and long-term relationships with them. GAC value all people, whether they are a customer, a potential client, a partner, a supplier or one of their 9,000 employees in fifty countries around the globe.
Together, both companies recognise that optimally trained staff can crucially reduce physical, environmental and financial risks. GTSS offers a comprehensive range of courses and services, catering to the growing needs of the maritime industry. Visit https://www.nmci.ie/index.cfm/page/gtss to see a full list of courses.

A new era in bespoke training
2014 was the beginning of a new exciting era for GTSS when the company was awarded, what was then a four-year, training contract with an oil major. This was the single largest maritime training contract in the history of the Irish state and training continues to this day.
Our client made the decision to focus on the value added training of its ship’s officers to further increase efficiencies and most importantly safety throughout its fleet and met with several colleges
around the world for this purpose. At the end of the process the client choose GTSS as its preferred training partner due in part to the college’s modern physical facilities, favourable location and in part to the NMCI’s unique commercial experience, ethos and structures.
GAC played an important part in the decision process as they already had a long established global contract with the client for shipping services.
At the time of the signing of the contract Minister Richard Bruton, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and
Innovation was quoted as saying;
“Here is an Irish organisation, winning deals with a major US company, increasing its export sales and ultimately creating jobs in Ireland. I wish both parties every success with this project”.
Customer focus
We recognise that our clients’ needs are not all the same and therefore our bespoke training reflects this. Our team have travelled to meet with clients from all industry areas, ranging from cruise
companies, and oil majors to superyachts management companies to discuss exactly what their training requirements are and where their preferred training locations are based.
Specialist training by experienced maritime professionals is fundamental to realising profitable efficiencies and minimising environmental and financial risks, both onshore and shipside. GTSS continues to provide innovative and cost saving training solutions to the maritime industry.
GTSS course developers and lecturers have unrivalled knowledge in military training, oil and gas, logistics, chartering, trading, ship operating, shipbroking and navigation. We have invested in building a focused team of highly qualified maritime and operational professionals to ensure the clients we collaborate with receive specialised training of the highest standards.


The future
It has been an exciting ten years for GTSS. We will continue to provide niche, high value and technologically advanced training courses, while empowering professionals, in the Maritime, Transport & Commodity Sectors for many years to come.
James O’Byrne, Managing Director of GTSS said,“10 years of GTSS in business is a proud moment for us. Not only does it signal 10 years of continuous success and loyalty, more importantly, it signals 10 years of providing vital training to the maritime industry. Thousands of seafarers have attended our courses and we have influenced their decisions and cultures onboard. We like to think that the industry is a safer place for our training. This is what makes us proud. We shall continue to grow and share our message across all sectors of our industry and make the world a safer and kinder place.”

For more information on GTSS courses please visit https://www.nmci.ie/index.cfm/page/gtss
For more information on GAC please visit https://www.gac.com/
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