Honours for maritime research cluster

Collaboration between the navy and research boffins has resulted in the first Taoiseach’s public service excellence Award for a maritime project which could create 52,000 jobs from wave energy.

The Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC) — based in Co Cork — was presented with the award by Enda Kenny yesterday at Dublin Castle.

The alliance between the Irish Naval Service, UCC, and CIT has succeeded in attracting inward investment, supporting indigenous industry and enhancing capacity for research and innovation in the country’s maritime sector.

IMERC director Dr Valerie Cummins, who accepted the award from Mr Kenny, said it was an acknowledgement of the “hard work, leadership and talent of the researchers, naval service personnel, trainers, educators, agency, and industry stakeholders” in IMERC.

As part of the cluster’s drive for further technological advances, UCC is building a new laboratory in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork. When completed towards the end of 2013 it will be the world’s largest marine renewable energy research facility.

It is expected that 70 research jobs will be directly created there in 2014 and Dr Cummins said the facility will support growth in maritime technology which could yield up to 52,000 jobs from wave energy for the country by 2030.