Maritime college jobs at risk in certificate dispute

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.

One staff member has already been let go and mandatory severance is being issued this week to as many as eight other employee at the national Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Ringaskiddy in a row over the certification of courses there.

The three-day refresher training programmes, which cost €800 and cover essential mariner skills such as basic sea survival and boat handling, are recognised internationally but the Marine Survey Office at the Department of Transport here are holding the NMCI certificates “in abeyance”, despite appeals for them to certify them.