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The Naval Service is the state's principal sea going agency
and an integral part of Óglaigh na hÉireann; it operates jointly
with the Army and Air Corps. To exercise and uphold our
State's sovereignty and obligations, the Naval Service patrols
Ireland's 220 million maritime acres, which is an area 12
times larger than the island of Ireland.
The Naval Service keeps Ireland open for business, as 99%
of trade on to and off our island nation is transported by sea.
Naval ships carry a unique status under international law as
an expression of state sovereignty and political will at sea and
are critical enablers for furthering policy objectives at home
and in the international maritime domain. The Government's
requirement for a flexible force with an appropriate level of
retained capability means in effect that the Naval Service, in
addition to meeting defence requirements, can deliver a wide
range of services at and from the sea.
The enduring characteristics of naval vessels - such as
sovereign status, poise, political utility, versatility, self-
sustainability, long reach and rapid response - facilitate a
variety of roles including inter alia:
• Maritime Presence
• Crisis response
• Fishery Protection
• Drug Interdiction
• Diving Operations
• Search and Rescue/Recovery
• Maritime Interdiction Operation
• Support to Trade and Diplomacy
It was on the 10th September 2018 when the 58th Cadet
Class were inducted into the Irish Naval Service and began
their training in the Officer Training School. In the first two
weeks, the 58th Cadet Class were introduced to the Naval
THE 58
TH
CADET CLASS
A NAVY DELIVERING
SERVICES
By A/M Sam Gibney
& A/B David Jones
Report taken from the 58
th
Cadet Class Booklet & Gov.ie
• Humanitarian Support & assistance
• Non-combatant operations
• Weather Reporting
• Fire Fighting
• Pollution Control/Towing
• General Maritime Support
The 58
th
Cadet Class
58
th
Cadet Class salutes for the first
time with their newly issued swords
Cadet Biggar adjusts his tie for the last time before the
Commissioning Ceremony