€26m naval patrol ships bought from New Zealand to finally be commissioned this week
The two inshore patrol vessels at Haulbowline Naval Base. Pictures: Gerard McCarthy
Two ships purchased from New Zealand at a cost of €26m will finally be commissioned by the Naval Service on Wednesday, nearly 16 months after they arrived at the navy’s headquarters at Haulbowline in Cork harbour.
The two ships, formerly known as HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukaki, were used by the New Zealand navy from 2009 to 2019 and they will replace the since scrapped Naval Service inshore patrol vessels LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara.
