A year ago after being forced to tie-up two ships due to manpower shortages, the Naval Service continues to haemorrhage personnel and may have to take another vessel off operational duties later this year.

Military sources have told the Irish Examiner that fearsbout tying up yet another ship “are well justified” due to a number of factors.

The current strength of the Naval Service has fallen to less than 880, whereas it should be 1,094.

Last June, a decision was made to take LÉ Orla and flagship LÉ Eithne off seagoing duties because of manpower shortages and health and safety concerns.

On-the-job training in the Naval Service was cancelled due to Covid-19 so that the Defence Forces could provide as much manpower as possible to help in the national emergency.

But, as lockdown measures continue to ease, training is returning and that means there will be fewer people available to man ships.

At any one time, there are up to 200 cadets, recruits, and technicians normally in full-time training.

In addition, even if the Navy was awash with recruits, social distancing regulations mean it will have to reduce recruit class numbers.

For further reading (click here) on the state of personnel levels.