Ireland's national centre for maritime education — offering STCW short courses, professional Certificates of Competency, GMDSS, OPITO, GWO offshore training, and degree programmes for officer cadets.
Book direct →The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) is located at Ringaskiddy on the southern shore of Cork Harbour and is Ireland's designated centre for the education and training of personnel for the Merchant Marine. Operated as part of Munster Technological University (MTU), the college delivers undergraduate officer-cadet degree programmes — BSc Nautical Science, BEng Marine Engineering, and BEng Marine Electrotechnology — alongside a full suite of professional short courses for working seafarers.
NMCI Training Services, the college's commercial arm, runs STCW basic and refresher courses, preparatory courses for OOW, Chief Mate, Master, Second Engineer Officer and Chief Engineer Officer Certificates of Competency, GMDSS General Operator's Certificate training, Medical First Aid and related medical courses, and a dedicated offshore and renewables training suite covering OPITO-approved and GWO courses. All professional certification courses are regulated by the Irish Maritime Administration (Department of Transport).
The college's world-class facilities include ship-handling simulators, engine-room simulators, a survival craft pool, fire-fighting rigs, and medical training suites — making it one of the most comprehensively equipped maritime training centres in Europe.
Preparatory course for the Officer of the Watch (Navigation) Certificate of Competency, covering navigational watchkeeping required on most classes of merchant ship. Candidates must hold a Notice of Eligibility from the Irish Maritime Administration and the specified sea service before enrolment.
Book on NMCI →Preparatory course for the Chief Mate Certificate of Competency, covering advanced navigational watchkeeping on most classes of merchant ship. Candidates must hold a Notice of Eligibility from the Irish Maritime Administration and the specified sea service before enrolment.
Book on NMCI →Preparatory course for the Master Certificate of Competency — the highest deck officer qualification for command of most classes of merchant ship. Candidates must hold a Notice of Eligibility from the Irish Maritime Administration and the specified sea service before enrolment.
Book on NMCI →Preparatory course for the Second Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency, covering engineering watchkeeping on most classes of merchant ship. Candidates must hold a Notice of Eligibility from the Irish Maritime Administration and the specified sea service before enrolment.
Book on NMCI →Preparatory course for the Chief Engineer Officer Certificate of Competency — the highest engineering qualification for command of a vessel's engineering department on most classes of merchant ship. Candidates must hold a Notice of Eligibility from the Irish Maritime Administration and the specified sea service.
Book on NMCI →Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science, one of three officer-cadet degree programmes delivered at NMCI as part of Munster Technological University. Ireland's designated pathway for Merchant Marine deck officer cadets.
Book on NMCI →Bachelor of Engineering in Marine Engineering, an officer-cadet degree programme at NMCI delivered as part of Munster Technological University. The primary pathway for Merchant Marine engineering officer cadets in Ireland.
Book on NMCI →Bachelor of Engineering in Marine Electrotechnology, an officer-cadet degree programme at NMCI delivered as part of Munster Technological University — training the next generation of electrotechnical officers for the Merchant Marine.
Book on NMCI →STCW basic short courses run through NMCI Training Services, the college's commercial arm — maritime training specialists covering STCW, simulation, port and bespoke courses for the commercial and offshore sectors.
Book on NMCI →STCW refresher training offered as a 3-day Short Route Refresher and a 5-day Long Route Refresher through NMCI Training Services — suitable for seafarers renewing their basic safety training certification.
Book on NMCI →Ten-day course preparing participants for the written and practical examinations leading to the GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC), covering efficient operation of all GMDSS equipment as required under SOLAS and STCW.
Book on NMCI →Three-day STCW-compliant Medical First Aid course teaching first aid skills for accidents and illness at sea and use of reference materials for managing medical emergencies. Elementary First Aid and Medical Care Aboard Ship courses are also offered.
Book on NMCI →Offshore and renewables training including OPITO-approved courses and a dedicated GWO (Global Wind Organisation) course suite, delivered through NMCI Training Services alongside port sector, simulation and emergency-response training.
Book on NMCI →Prices and dates are indicative — confirm directly with NMCI before booking.
A 4-star hotel with 91 bedrooms, indoor pool, sauna, and leisure centre, located in Carrigaline village and widely recommended as the go-to hotel for Ringaskiddy ferry passengers and maritime visitors.
View options →A 4-star Irish Tourist Board-approved guesthouse with 15 en-suite rooms, free parking, and a quiet residential setting in Carrigaline — repeatedly cited as convenient for the National Maritime College of Ireland and Ringaskiddy ferry port.
View options →A compact lodge on the outskirts of Carrigaline offering single, double, twin, and triple en-suite rooms plus 10 on-site cottages for corporate stays — described as the closest hotel to the Port of Cork in Ringaskiddy.
View options →Cork Airport (ORK) is approximately 24 minutes' drive from Ringaskiddy (roughly 18 km via the N27/N28). Taxi from the airport takes under 30 minutes and is the most direct option. Bus Éireann route 226 runs from the airport into Cork city centre, where you connect to route 223 toward Ringaskiddy village (10–15 min walk to the port terminal); total journey around 1 hour. Bus Éireann route 225 also links Cork Airport directly to Ringaskiddy via Carrigaline.
Cork Kent Station is the main intercity rail terminus, approximately 17 km from Ringaskiddy. Irish Rail (Iarnód Éireann) serves Cork Kent from Dublin and other major cities. There is no direct rail service to Ringaskiddy — from Kent Station take Bus Éireann route 223 to Ringaskiddy village (journey approx. 45–60 min); the bus stop is a 10–15 minute walk from the port terminal. A taxi from Kent Station to Ringaskiddy takes around 25–30 minutes.
Ringaskiddy Ferry Terminal (Port of Cork) is served by Brittany Ferries with Cork (Ringaskiddy) to Roscoff, France — twice weekly overnight crossings taking approximately 15 hours, operated by MV Pont-Aven (Saturdays) and MV Armorique (Wednesdays).
Brittany Ferries →From Cork city centre, head south on the N27, merge onto the N40 (Cork South Ring Road) eastbound, then take Exit 9 onto the N28 towards Ringaskiddy. The port and village are signposted from the N28. Journey from Cork city is approximately 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. Free car parking is available at or near the ferry terminal, and all three recommended hotels also offer free on-site parking.
Open in Maps →Local note: Ringaskiddy is a small port village with no town centre of its own; the practical base for visitors is Carrigaline, 3–5 km away, which has shops, restaurants and the accommodation listed above. There is no train service to Ringaskiddy itself. Bus Éireann route 223 is the main public bus link to Cork city but requires a walk to the port terminal. For maritime training at NMCI, a car or taxi is the most practical option. Prices and schedules reflect information available in mid-2026 and should be verified before travel.