Crew shortages could see navy ships ‘grind to halt’

Navy ships are in danger of “grinding to a halt” because there are less than half the number of engine room technicians required to keep them going, an organisation which represents Defences Forces’ personnel claims.

PDFORRA, which represents the Defence Forces’ 6,500 ordinary ranks, said the situation is “critical” and is calling on the Department of Defence urgently to address the situation.

PDFORRA general secretary Gerry Rooney said the Naval Service requires around 60 such technicians to keep the fleet on sea patrols, but now has less than 30. He said those left are finding it difficult to plug the gap and the strain has led to several technicians resigning from the navy.

In the meantime, Mr Rooney said recruitment for the positions was far too slow.

“This is extremely important and potentially very serious. We have now reached a critical juncture and the fear is ships could grind to a halt,” Mr Rooney said.

Because of the shortage, the engine room technicians are getting less time on shore than many other Naval Service personnel and this is putting a severe burden on their families.

“The Department of Defence is being slow in recognising the impact this could potentially have,” he said.

In addition to their role as engineering technicians, these personnel also have other serious responsibilities. They are firefighting leaders who instruct other crew what to do if a fire should break out on board a vessel.

This is one of a number of problems that PDFORRA delegates will discuss at their annual conference which takes place from Oct 1-3 in Wexford.

Mr Rooney said his organisation was also concerned that new 20-year contracts issued to Defence Forces personnel who joined from 1994 onwards may not be renewed when they start expiring in around 18 months’ time.

“These are very experienced people and would now be approaching or in their 40s. It would have a serious knock-on effect with experience across the Defence Forces, if such contracts were not renewed.”

He said that if the Department of Defence failed to extend the contracts then the Defence Forces would start losing around 100 very experienced personnel every year.

A Department of Defence spokeswoman said it would shortly be announcing proposals to recruit engine room technicians.

She added that discussions were taking place between the department and PDFORRA over enlisted personnel who had joined up post-1994.