Navy gets students shipshape
In conjunction with Engineers Ireland, the navy invited schoolchildren onboard the LE Eithne, which was docked in Cork and the LE Ciara which tied up in Dublin.
Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Terry Ward said from the navy’s perspective it was vital to ensure it had enough engineers to keep the fleet operational.
More than a third of the navy’s 1,000 sailors are mechanical, electronic and electrical engineers who are under the command of Captain Bob Scarrott, who is based at naval headquarters in Haulbowline, near Cobh, Co Cork.
“They have to maintain the machinery and make sure it is in first class condition, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to do our jobs properly,” Lieut Comdr Ward said.
Schoolchildren were shown the engine rooms and how they propelled the vessels through water.
“They were also taken up to the bridge where they were shown our surveillance, navigation and communications equipment, which are maintained by electronic engineers,” Lieut Comdr Ward said.
He said it was vitally important to have expert engineers maintaining the fleet as each ship spends more than 200 days per year at sea.
“We can’t afford breakdowns. We always try to have a minimum of three ships on operations at any one time. We spend a lot more time at sea than other European navies,” the senior naval officer added.
The navy has to patrol a 200-mile “sovereign waters” limit which equates to an area of 130,000 nautical square miles.
“As an island nation were are responsible for a very large maritime domain which sees us involved in fishery protection, anti-drug patrols, and search and rescue. We’re very happy to be associated with the Engineers Ireland initiative,” Lt Comdr Ward said.
- Details of other events of Engineers Week can be found at www.engineersweek.ie.
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