Financial sweeteners fail to stop mass exodus from the Naval Service

The Naval Service is currently operating without four ships due to crew shortages.

Financial sweeteners aimed at stemming the rapidly declining Naval Service numbers have failed, making it increasingly difficult to carry out key roles such as sea fishery protection and search-and-rescue operations.

In a communique sent by senior Naval Service officers to a member of the Defence Forces General Staff, they say the 'concerning and continual fall in (personnel) numbers' in the service, is 'hampering best efforts to provide the expected level of service to key stakeholders, and indeed the State'.