Staff at the National Maritime College have implored Transport Minister Shane Ross to intervene in a row which could threaten jobs at the Cork-based facility.

Ireland’s position as a world leader in maritime survival training is to be further cemented by a partnership of two Cork institutions which will design, build and run an offshore training centre in the Canary Islands.

Ireland’s only maritime college has set its sights on becoming the world’s first global training hub for officers of ocean-going super-tankers.

Ireland’s maritime training college will sign a landmark €2m training contract with one of the world’s largest shipping companies in Texas today.