“Realising Ireland’s maritime ambition” is the theme of the third annual national seafarers’ conference in Limerick next month.

The event on February 22nd - hosted by the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) and sponsored by the Simply Blue group - will be opened by Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney.

It takes place in the Castletroy Hotel, Limerick, on the same weekend as The Skipper show.

Representatives from Government departments, maritime industry, supply chain workforce and educational institutions will explore the opportunities to support and grow the fishing and offshore wind industries in Ireland.

“Considering the climate crisis, Ireland’s ambition for offshore renewable energy is large,”the organisers state.

“Equally, considering the biodiversity crisis and the importance of food security, the ambition for sustainable fishing and seafood is of central importance to Ireland’s coastal communities and beyond,”they state.

“ As humankind looks seaward for solutions the necessity to plot a coexistent future at sea is of central importance. Ireland will need to prepare its maritime industry’s capability and capacity beyond anything that it has achieved to date if it is to realise its ambition,”they state.

Former RTÉ broadcaster and sailor Fergal Keane is master of ceremonies, and panel chairs are Captain Brian Fitzgerald, Simply Blue’s director of external affairs and stakeholder liaison; Commander Roberta O’Brien, NMCI associate head of college; Dr Paul Hegarty, NMCI head of college; and Peter Coyle, Marine Renewable Industry Association chair.

They will lead discussions on several key themes, including “enabling Ireland’s offshore renewable energy ambition”; “enabling Ireland’s fishing industry ambition”; the international experience of meeting maritime ambition, and “what will success look like in ten years’ time – 2034”.

Eirgrid’s chief infrastructure officer, Michael Mahon, the Department of Environment’s offshore wind delivery task force chair, Robert McGuinness, and Bord Iascaigh Mhara chief executive Caroline Bocquel will be among the speakers.

Also listed to speak are International Ship Managers Association secretary general Captain Kuba Szymanski and British National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations chief executive Mike Cohen among others.

To register to attend this conference in-person see here: In-Person  and Virtual/Remote