Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
147. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the commissioning of the new vessels for the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13469/14]
View answerA contract was signed in October, 2010 with Babcock International in the United Kingdom for the provision of two new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV’s) for the Naval Service. The first of the two ships to be called LE Samuel Beckett is a replacement for LE Emer which was decommissioned and sold late last year.The Sea Trials for LE Samuel Beckett are scheduled to take place in the UK shortly. Subject to the successful outcome of the Trials, the ship will be handed over to the Department of Defence and should arrive shortly thereafter. Details of the commissioning of LE Samuel Beckett into operational service will be finalised when the ship arrives in Ireland following handover. The second ship, LE James Joyce, a replacement for LE Aoife, is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2015 and again details of the commissioning of the vessel into service will be made once the ship arrives in Ireland next year. LE Aoife will be decommissioned and sold later this year.
