The annual gathering of the EU and NATO Chiefs of European Navies (CHENS) is under way in Cork.
The two-day gathering is described by the Defence Forces as an "informal, independent and non-political forum", and is meeting to discuss emergent and disruptive technologies and their use in the context of maritime safety and security.
A low-key garda presence is being maintained at the hotel venue, where several delegates arrived this morning under garda escort.
The 27-member group is open to any European nation which is a member of the EU or NATO and has a navy.
The European Military Staff, NATO's Allied Maritime Command and the United States Navy deployed in Europe, have been invited as observers.
Currently, Ireland holds the presidency of the CHENS Conference, having previously hosted it in 2001.
On its website, CHENS says subjects of common interest are discussed at the annual conference, with briefings on a "wide range of maritime issues in order to foster common understanding of, and promote an agreed approach to, those issues".
Each Chief of Navy attends the meeting as the senior flag officer of their respective navy and not as an official representee of their country.
Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service, Commodore Michael Malone will represent the Irish Naval Service.
CHENS has a number of working groups, including Maritime Security Operations Working Group; Best Practices Maritime Security Operations; Maritime Cooperation with Africa Working Group and Protection of Naval Units in Ports Working Group.
Ireland's Guard Project - a collaboration between the Defence Forces, academia and private industry to develop a maritime smart drone capable of detecting drug smuggling at sea - is also to be discussed.
At the last gathering held in Cork in 2001, the discussion topic was 'Generation of European Multi National Maritime Force'.
