companies. Its research centre, the HALPIN Centre, carries out maritime research and development projects in various aspects of maritime operations, such as the development of a towed radar kite for the Naval Service, and is based within the college. In addition to the HALPIN Centre, the National Maritime College of Ireland campus is home to the University College Cork Beaufort Maritime and Energy Research Laboratory, the largest maritime and energy research centre in the world, which hosts the MaREI (Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy), a research and development centre for marine research and renewable energy sectors. The laboratory is home to Lir - the National Ocean Test Facility, which consists of a number of artificial wave basins for scaled testing of ship, offshore wind energy and tidal energy designs. MaREI is also home to a European Space Agency business incubator. In January 2021, Cork Institute of Technology (of which the National Maritime College of Ireland is a constituent college) merged with IT Tralee to form Munster Technological University. Thus the NMCI became a constituent college of the new Technological University. Training facilities In additional to lecture halls and other student amenities, the college has a number of specialist maritime training facilities. These include, for example, a sea-survival training pool which includes a wave machine and wind generators. There is also a helicopter "dunking" trainer, used to train personnel to escape from helicopters which have ditched in open water. Also on site is a lifeboat jetty (and several types of lifeboat) used for training purposes. There is also a fire-fighting training simulator (designed to reflect hazards found on ships), radio (GMDSS) training suites, bridge simulation equipment (including a 360° bridge watchkeeping simulator), and engine room simulation equipment. In additional to machinery room equipment (diesel engines and boilers) used for familiarisation and training, there are several workshops and laboratories. Training programmes The National Maritime College of Ireland provides the following undergraduate education and training degree programmes: Nautical Science (BSc): This course is intended for those who desire to pursue a career as a Deck Officer on board a ship. Marine and Plant Engineering (BEng): This course provides training in marine plant, electrical, welding and mechanical workshops, in order to allow students to pursue a career as a Engine officer, supplemented by means of practical experience in the college's engine room and machinery simulation rooms. Marine Electrotechnology (BEng): The course begins the