Just 862 trained personnel left in Navy as 24 more seek to leave

The LÉ William Butler Yeats berthed at Haulbowline in Cork Harbour. File picture: Eddie O'Hare

The Naval Service continues to hemorrhage personnel, falling to just 862 trained crew members and facing the further loss of 24 experienced seamen who have sought and are awaiting to be discharged from the force.

Figures provided to the Irish Examiner show that as of March 1, the total complement of personnel had plunged below the 900 mark.