Naval concern for ‘ageing’ vessels

MILITARY representatives have expressed concern about the deteriorating condition of Navy vessels and the lack of funds to replace aging ships which have been forced to remain docked for repairs.

Rank and file members want funds kept aside for ship replacements and have warned that nearly a third of Ireland’s major navy ships are up to 30 years old.

The Department of Defence said no decision had been made about cutting or freezing funds and said potential bidders for the new ships had been identified.

But PDFORRA, the association representing soldiers, sailors and aircrew-argued yesterday that the Government had made the decision to defer any move on the replacement of the ageing Naval Service fleet.

PDFORRA deputy general secretary Simon Devereux said: “These ships were built with a working life of 30 years and they have done what they were built to do and it is now time to replace them.”

The group argue that the LE Emer ship was recently in dry-dock to repair a large series of holes to the hull, developed as a result of age.

Her sister ship LE Aoife is now dry-docked in Cork to investigate what appears to be an identical problem, it suggested.

There are also concerns about the impact of ageing on the LE Aisling which was built at the same time as LE Emer and LE Aoife, said PDFORRA.

The Department of Defence last night denied any decision had been made to defer a decision on funding the navy’s replacements.

A spokeswoman for Defence Minister Willie O’Dea added: “All departments are undergoing budgetary reviews.”