Two more naval patrol ships could be in service in a matter of weeks
The naval service, which was only able to have one ship patrolling Irish waters since the start of the year, could have two more vessels available within a matter of weeks.
A lack of key personnel and mechanical issues have severely hampered the ability of the naval service with only a single vessel available to carry out key duties including drug interception operations, fishery monitoring as well as search and rescue.
Michael O’Sullivan, the former director of Europe’s Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre, Narcotics, said last month that “by not resourcing our navy we have handed the keys of the country over to the drug cartels do to do with us what they wish”.
That was after an international drug-smuggling ring was allegedly trying to import up to two tonnes of cocaine into West Cork and the only on-patrol ship had to set sail from Dun Laoghaire to the area to assist searches.
Now, however, it has emerged that a second of its larger ships, possibly the LÉ Niamh, could be back on patrol within the next few weeks and one of the two smaller inshore vessels purchased from New Zealand at a cost of €26m will become operational by the end of June.
It is likely the other inshore ship will not get out on patrol until some time later this year.
They arrived at the navy headquarters at Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour last May, but have been tied up since. The P70 class vessels have been named LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait.
The ships need a crew of around 20 personnel — slightly less than half of the P60 class ships such as LÉ James Joyce and LÉ Samuel Beckett. The two P70s are too small to cope with Atlantic Ocean weather and will operate in the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea instead.
Last summer, the navy was able to send a ship to participate in the EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, a multi-nation operation in the Mediterranean Sea to uphold a UN resolution aimed at preventing oil exports from Libya and the importation of arms into that country.
The Defence Forces press office said no decision has yet been made on whether it will participate in this operation this year. It said its participation “will be dependent on the ability of the naval service to carry out its existing taskings as required by Government”.