Navy could be down to just one operational ship this year due to staff shortages
Only Had Years Operational Is Picture: Currently Few O'hare Down Ships Navy A It Eddie Eight The Ago, To Two
The navy could be down to just one operational ship early this year if it loses any more ‘specialists’ who must be onboard for sea patrols.
Military sources have told the the loss of just two or three specialists could lead to the tying-up of yet another vessel.
They fear this is a distinct possibility as some military personnel are going to be eligible to obtain service pensions and on top of that would command very good salaries for their skills in the private sector.
While the sources say they hope the doubling of the Patrol Duty Allowance (PDA) from this month will help stem the tide of personnel quitting the service, the small number of specialists left is now at a very critical level.
In addition, until the personnel crisis in the service is rectified, two smaller ships, purchased from New Zealand, may not be able to go on full-time maritime patrols.
There is a severe shortage of engine room technicians/fitters, experienced electricians and communications experts.
Without these, even the smaller former New Zealand ships cannot go to sea.
While the navy is experiencing an upturn in recruit numbers, young sailors do not have the skillsets, and will not for some time, to enable them fill the specialist roles.
A consultancy firm has been employed to headhunt such specialists globally.
It warned some weeks ago that similar specialist shortages exist worldwide and the Naval Service is facing competition from the British Royal Navy, merchant navy, and cruise line industry which will all be trying to attract the same people.
It is understood that to date nobody has signed up to fill the specialist vacancies in the Naval Service.
Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Seán Clancy has said the PDA increase is ultimately recognition of hardships of life at sea and he hopes it will be good for retention.
The daily PDA rate is being doubled to €129.24 for an officer and to €128.54 for an enlisted person. Personnel can serve up to a maximum of 165 days on sea patrol per year. If they do the maximum days they will earn €20,565 PDA on top of their normal wages.
Only a few years ago, the navy had eight ships operational. It is currently down to two, with another one said by the Department of Defence to be in "operational reserve"’
Lt Gen Clancy said there was a plan to get one ship at a time back into operation. However, he did not reveal how or when this might be achieved.