Navy’s new inshore patrol vessels, LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait, commissioned
Sailors form a guard of honour for Tanaiste Micheál Martin at the naming and commissioning ceremony of LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait at Haulbowline Naval Base, Co Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins
The navy’s two new inshore patrol vessels, LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait, have been commissioned, with one likely to be berthed in Dún Laoghaire when it becomes fully operational later this year.
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin said that he had instructed the Department of Defence “to engage” with the port authorities in Dún Laoghaire about berthage there for LÉ Aoibhinn.
LÉ Gobnait will not become operational until at least next year.
Mr Martin said the vessels, purchased from New Zealand for €26m, are equipped with electronic warfare capabilities and will strengthen the country’s maritime security.
The ships are smaller than the P60-class vessels, such as LÉ James Joyce, but Mr Martin said they will provide the navy with “greater versatility and flexibility”.
There is currently only one P60-class vessel out on patrol at any time at present due to a combination of crew shortages and mechanical issues.
However, despite this, Mr Martin said the State’s security services were now bolstered with better Air Corps surveillance aircraft.
He claimed that this, in conjunction with liaising with other EU States, ensures that Ireland knows every vessel entering its enormous maritime Economic Exclusion Zone, which is more than 10 times the landmass of the country.
The ships are the first to be commissioned in unison since LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara in 1986.
They have since been scrapped.
At the commissioning ceremony at the navy’s headquarters in Haulbowline, Cork harbour command of LÉ Aoibhinn was given to Lieutenant Commander Aonghus Ó Neachtain and LÉ Gobnait to Lieutenant Commander Aisling O’Flynn.
Accepting their commands, the officers were piped onboard their ships.
Lt Comdr Ó Neachtain’s crew followed him one by one up the gangplank of the LÉ Aoibhinn.
No crew has yet been picked for LÉ Gobnait and while the navy hopes to have her operational next year, it has admitted that will be dependent on increasing personnel numbers in the force.
Mr Martin said he recognised this issue but is confident that numbers will be bolstered by additional recruitment and a suite of measures he has introduced to aid retention.
The ships, now known as P70-class vessels, are normally crewed by 24 personnel, which is nearly half the number needed for the larger P60-class vessels.
They were blessed with holy water by the navy’s padre, Fr Des Campion, and to mark the occasion three PC9 aircraft from the Air Corps did a fly past.
The hoisting of the ships’ colours then took place to mark their official commissioning – The Ensign, Naval Jack, and Tricolour.
When the ceremony concluded Mr Martin toured the ships in the company of Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant Seán Clancy and the navy’s senior officer Commodore Michael Malone.
Lt Gen Clancy said the ships will form “part of an enhanced and balanced navy fleet".
“They will bring enhanced capability and capacity to the Naval Service in its continuing mission to uphold our sovereignty in the State’s extensive maritime domain,” the military’s most senior officer added.
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