Six Deckhand trainees were presented with their Certificates after completing the FETAC Level 5 Commercial Fishing course at the BIM National Fisheries College in Greencastle, Co Donegal recently. During the course, the students completed 8 FETAC Modules over a six month period covering all aspects of Commercial Fishing including Fishing Gear Maintenance & Repair, Marine Engineer Operations, Safety at Sea, Fishing Vessel Operations, Care of the Catch, Communications, Information Technology, Computer Applications, Navigation and Stability together with all the mandatory safety courses.
Pictured front row from left to right at BIM’s National Fisheries College, Greencastle, Co Donegal are: Michael Keatinge, BIM’s Fisheries Development Manager, Ross Mulhall Ardglass, Co Down, winner of the FETAC Commercial Fishing Trainee of the Year Award and Maritta McLornan, Training Centre Manager, Seafish Industry Authority, Northern Ireland
Back Row from left to right: Ryan Murden, Tubercurry Co Sligo; Paraic O Curraoin,Banrach Co Galway; Rory O Connor Douglas Co Cork; Killian Cox Castlebar Co Mayo; Dominic Boyle Arranmore Island Co Donegal
Michael Keatinge, BIM’s Fisheries Development Manager presented the awards and congratulated the trainees: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and wish you all well in your careers. You now have the necessary skills required to work on board a fishing vessel and I would urge you to place a particular emphasis on being safety conscious at sea and follow the important safety training you have received on this course. I would also encourage you to build on this experience and return to the National Fisheries College in the near future to complete a Certificate of Competency’
The ‘FETAC Commercial Fishing Trainee of the Year’ award went to Ross Mulhall from Ardglass, Co Down. Ross was presented with his award by special guest Maritta McLornon, Trainee Centre Manager with the Seafish Industry Training Association of Northern Ireland. The FETAC Commercial Fishing course is one of two courses run at the College in Greencastle for new entrants into the Fishing Industry. The second being the Class 3 Marine Engineering (Fishing) Course leading to a Class 3 Marine Engineering (Fishing) Certificate of Competency and a FETAC Level 5 Engineering Technology Certificate. The Class 3 Course entails a College period of 1-year at the National Fisheries College and a further 1-year’s seatime on a fishing vessel.
Pictured: Ross Mulhall, Ardglass, Co. Down, Winner of the FETAC Commercial Fishing Trainee of the Year Award with BIM’s Fisheries Development Manager, Michael Keatinge and Maritta McLornan, Training Centre Manager, Seafish Industry Authority, Northern Ireland