#SoftwareContract - OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) has announced the signing of a contract with the Naval Service to deliver warship navigation systems, writes the Maritime Executive.com

The contract includes OSI's ECPINS-W (Warship) software and under the terms of the deal OSI will provide engineering services, ship systems, operator training systems, and installation services.

In addition the company will install the systems throughout the entire Naval Service fleet.

According to the contractor, ECPINS-W is the only software certified by an International Association of Classification Societies approved body against the NATO WECDIS STANAG 4564.

#AoifeAuction –  L.E. Aoife (P22) the Naval Service's oldest OPV unit has finally been given a timeframe for its disposal by public auction (if not previously sold) in February 2015, writes Jehan Ashmore.

According to Cork based auctioneers, Dominic J. Daly, they have been instructed by the Department of Defence to dispose of the offshore patrol vessel which entered service in November 1979. She was built at Verolme Cork Dockyard as the second of a trio of 'Emer' class sisters.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the OPV was originally scheduled to be disposed of last October, a year after the sale by auction of L.E. Emer to Nigerian interests.

The delay on disposal as previously reported on Afloat.ie hinged on the progress in constructing her replacement the newbuild OPV 90 class James Joyce which in recent days was floated-out at Babcock Marine's shipyard in Devon. 

Viewings of the L.E. Aoife can be made strictly by appointment only by contacting the auctioneer on 087 2550486 and for more info click HERE.

The newbuild OPV90 class James Joyce is expected to be delivered to the Naval Service in early 2015.

#OPVJamesJoyce – A new offshore patrol vessel for the Irish Navy has been floated for the first time, reports the BBC.

The Irish Naval Service's LÉ James Joyce was constructed at Babcock's Appledore shipyard in north Devon. The 90m-long vessel, with a top speed of 23 knots and a range of 6,000 nautical miles, is 92% complete.

Babcock was awarded the contract to build two offshore patrol vessels by Ireland's Department of Defence in 2010.

Babcock shipbuilding director, Andrew Hamilton, said: "We are delighted to achieve this important and highly visible milestone to quality, budget and schedule. "We will now be focusing on final outfit, completing sea trials and commissioning before handover to the Irish Naval Service early in 2015."

The vessel will undertake a range of duties including fishery protection, search and rescue, anti-pollution and maritime security duties.

For more related stories from the BBC click here.

Afloat.ie adds that her predecessor, L.E. Samuel Beckett (P61) the leadship of a trio of new OPV90 class newbuilds was launched as previously reported from the same Devon shipyard this month a year ago.

#AoifeAuctionUpdate – L.É. Emer (P21) which was sold at public auction this day last year to Nigerian interests for €320,000, was to be followed 12 months later with the disposal of sister L.É. Aoife (P22) however this has been postponed, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Commenting to Afloat.ie as to the decision to defer the auction date this autumn, the Naval Service said that they are planning for the decommissioning process of L.É. Aoife. However, no firm date has been set for this event which will be dependent on progress made on the build of the L.É. James Joyce. It is the responsibility of the Department of Defence reference the sale of L.É. Aoife thereafter.

In the meantime L.É. Aoife, the second of the trio of 'Emer' class OPV's is undergoing dry-docking at Cork Dockyard Ltd.  The shiprepair site at Rushbrooke was the former Verolme Cork Dockyard which completed the 1,019 tonnes displacement vessel for the Naval Service. She was commissioned 35 years ago when she joined the naval fleet on the 29 November 1979.

Cork based auctioneer Dominic J. Daly sold the leadship L.É. Emer to Uniglobe Group, however she remained in Cork Dockyard for work to prepare her new role and departed during this summer.

The auction of L.É. Aoife is part of a programme to replace the ageing series. Her successor L.É. James Joyce is the second of three OPV90 or so called 'Beckett' class on order from Babcock Marine in the UK.

When L.É. Aoife is eventually sold this will leave L.É. Aisling (P23) as the final unit to be disposed. She will be replaced by a third newbuild again costing €54m and due for delivery in 2016.

#navy – Ten new recruits to the Naval Service Reserve completed their training in a ceremony in the Naval Base on Haulbowline yesterday. The 10 recruits, 9 from Cork and 1 from Dublin endured 3 weeks of intense training where they covered a range of subjects such as foot and arms drill, marksmanship, sea survival, fire-fighting, military law and an introduction to military customs, traditions and way of life.

This is a milestone as it marks the first integrated Naval Service Reserve recruit class since the inception of the Single Force Concept which is a key element of the 2012 Defence Forces Reorganisation. The training was shared between members Naval College and the Naval Service Reserve. The Naval Service Reserve will soon be seeking a total of 25 potential recruits in its Cork (2), Dublin (5), Limerick (8) and Waterford (10) units.

The role of the NSR is to augment Naval Service seagoing strength through provision of trained personnel whilst at unit level providing the capability for an armed Naval Element afloat with local shore support and expert local maritime knowledge and intelligence in support of PDF Operations at and from the sea in the main trading ports in support of maintenance of National Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC).

The Naval Service is an integral part of Óglaigh na hÉireann / Defence Forces and operates jointly with the Army and Air Corps. The Naval Service protects Ireland's interests at and from the sea. Currently, the Naval Service is tasked with a broad range of maritime defence, security and other roles. Routine patrols are multi-tasked to encompass national and maritime security, ocean governance, fishery protection, safety and surveillance, port security, drug interdiction, pollution control and search and rescue.

The Service also supports Army operations in the littoral and by sea lift. It provides support on Aid to the Civil Power and Aid to the Civil Authority operations, including inter alia maritime security cordons, and possesses the primary diving team in the State. The Fisheries Monitoring Centre ( FMC) at the Naval Base is the designated national centre with responsibility for monitoring all fishing activity within the Irish Exclusive Fishery Limits and all Irish fishing vessels operating around the world. In addition, Naval Service Vessels have undertaken supply and reconnaissance missions to overseas peace support operations and participated in foreign visits in support of Irish Trade and Diplomacy.

#OPVconference- L.E. Samuel Beckett (P61) is appropriately docked in Dublin Port, having arrived last night on the eve of today's start of the International Offshore Patrol Vessels Conference (30 Sept-2 Oct) held in the capital, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The €54m OPV90 class newbuild of 2,226 tonnes is berthed alongside Sir John Rogersons Quay, where a ceremony as previously reported saw her christened and commissioned into the Naval Service in May.

As the class name suggests, the OPV is 90 metres in length, which is 10 metres longer than her predecessor, L.E. Niamh (P52) the second of a pair of 'Roisin' class built for the Naval Service 12 years ago in Appledore, north Devon by Appledore Shipbuilders. The yard is now owned by Babcock Marine & Technology, one of several such facilities in the UK which forms part of Babcock International.

L.E. Samuel Beckett has a crew of 44 though this can be extended to accommodate ten more for cadet trainees. As for her main weapon, this is a OTO Melera 76mm compact gun mounted on the bow, two 20mm Rheinmetall cannon guns located on either side of the funnel casing and elsewhere four smaller machine guns. Engine power is from a pair of 6 cylinder Wartsila diesel motors driving twin shafts that propel a top speed of 23 knots.

Her presence along the Liffey's city centre quays represents the latest in OPV design. From next year she is to feature (UAV) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for surveillenace purposes as required for the role of the naval branch of the Irish Defence Forces which is in association partnering the major three-day OPV conference.

Among the speakers from the more than 20 nations representing OPV industry stakeholders, navies and shipyards is Andrew Hamilton, head of Babcock International. The same north Devon yard that built L.E. Samuel Beckett, is where her sister L.E. James Joyce is currently under construction as part of an original order for the pair. She is due for completion in the first quarter of 2015.

Last June, the Department of Defence took up the option of ordering a third OPV90 or 'Beckett' class sister from the yard for the fixed price of €54m based on 2012 prices. The yet to be revealed name given for the final member of the class is due for delivery in 2016.

#OPVconference- A major three day conference on the Offshore Patrol Vessels industry will be held in Dublin starting tomorrow.

Among the delegates speakers of the International Offshore Patrol Vessels Conference (30 Sept-2 Oct) now in its 9th year will be Rear Admiral Mark Mellett of the Irish Defence Forces who also are hosting the event as associate partners.

The conference which takes place in the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, will enable opportunities for face-to-face meetings to discuss cost-effective solutions for offshore asset protection and enhanced maritime security with military, OPV shipbuilders and industry stakeholders from the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

The new Samuel Beckett-class OPV as previously featured on Afloat.ie is also discussed by Mellett in Defence IQ (click here for podcast, available through registration). 

The Rear Admiral also discusses the construction of the vessel with an eye towards climate change, cost-efficiency in a complex maritime environment, meeting emerging threats, and reveals his key to working effectively with industry partners and shipyards.

On a related note, Babcock Marine & Technology the shipyard which built L.E. Samuel Beckett (and a pair of sisters on order), will be represented at the conference by speaker delegate Andrew Hamilton of Babcock International.

Also attending the conference will be Flag Officer Commanding Commodore Hugh Tully of the Naval Service.

For more details on the conference: www.offshorepatrolvessels.com/Default.aspx

#drugsmuggling – An 18–metre yacht (60–foot) carrying an estimated street value of between €70m and €80m of Cocaine seized off the South West coast has arrived in to Cork Harbour after arrest by the Irish Navy last night.

Three men believed to be from the UK were detained on board the yacht, a Naval Cantiere 62 type, called the Makayabella. 

The yacht was 200 miles off Mizen Head when the seizure was made. It was boarded by Navy drug interdiction personnel under cover of darkness in on Tuesday morning.

The shipment is understood to have originated in South America, while the yacht set sail from the Caribbean,

Six years ago, another 60–foot yacht on a transatlantic passge fom the Caribbean was also intercepted on the southwest coast by Gardaí, the Naval Service and Customs. A consignment of at least 1.5 tonnes of cocaine found on onboard was seized.The crew of that yacht were arrested and taken into custody by the LE Roisin at Castletownbere harbour. That haul matched the 2007 record €440m seizure at Dunlough Bay in west Cork.

The latest seizure was from on a vessel that was taken into custody around 200 miles off the southwest coast last night.

A full garda technical examination of the Makayabella will get under way this morning.

The seizure of around a tonne of cocaine is believed to be one of the biggest drugs seizures at sea in Europe this year.

Details of the operation were kept secret to facilitate follow-up investigations, both in Ireland and abroad.

The vessel is believed to be in poor condition following its transatlantic crossing.

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According to RTE News, the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre for Narcotics, based in Lisbon in Portugal, is also understood to have been involved in the operation, along with Britain's National Crime Agency, as well as security and customs agencies elsewhere.

#corkharbour – In compiling this month's edition of This Island Nation I met a 23-year-old student from University College, Cork, who told me the story of Soviet-inclined workers of Cork Harbour Board taking over the port and flying the Red Flag over the hallowed building of the Board, then administered by members of the elite and exclusive part of Cork society. It is a fascinating part of Irish history

Ships were prevented from entering the Port of Cork which was then under a blockade of the Red Flag in the Soviet-style take-over.

I thought I knew my history, but never knew about this, nor it seems may many other people, when the Red Flag flew over the board offices and Sinn Fein tried for treason those who had followed the lead of Cork's then Lord Mayor, the legendary Tomás MacCurtain.

Luke Dineen told me the story. He is studying at UCC for his PhD on the history of the labour movement in Cork from 1918 to 1923. I hope you listen to the programme where you will hear about this unusual part of Irish maritime and labour history, with a twist in the tail about Cork's commemoration of its 800th anniversary involving the famous pub, the Phoenix.

There are many other stories in the programme which provides the most widespread coverage of maritime affairs on air.

NAVAL SEAMANSHIP APPRECIATION

It is encouraging to know that a blog like this is so well read and so, when the Naval Service contacted me following my column on July 13 about sailing past their base on Haulbowline aboard Odd Job, the yacht owned by a friend of mine in Monkstown Bay Sailing Club and altering course at the request of the L.E. Samuel Beckett to facilitate it docking at the Base, it was to express appreciation of the seamanship and courtesy involved,

John Hegarty, the Skipper/owner, the rest of the crew aboard and myself are very appreciative of the courtesy of the Navy in the note they sent to invite a visit to the ship "in recognition of the values of good seamanship and courtesy displayed between the two vessels."

I had recounted how John lost the winning position on that night's league racing in Monkstown, the time involved in altering course and then returning to the racing making the difference on handicap.

Why I am writing again about this is to stress the courtesy and seamanship involved between the State vessel and a racing yacht. In this instance it occurred in the confines of a narrow part of Cork Harbour, but seamanship and courtesy are applicable anywhere on the water and, regrettably, there are growing incidents of these values not being shown.

RNLI and Coast Guard contacts have told me of rescue calls, particularly involving engine breakdowns, when help is despatched but those in difficulty manage to get an engine going again, but don't bother to advise the rescue services that they no longer need help and lifeboat or Coast Guard personnel can spend time searching fruitlessly for them.

Then there are the ribs and motorboats which rush past sailing vessels with no consideration for the wash they cause, the yachts which impede commercial traffic in a harbour and the owners of which are under the illusion that "steam gives way to sail," which does not operate inside commercially-operated harbours. There are those who sail at night but show no lights, those who do not obey the speed limits inside harbours and several other aspects which readers could probably quote. All of which show lack of seamanship.

Anyone who takes a boat out on the water has a duty of responsibility not only to those aboard, but to everyone else on the water.

"Seamanship" has been defined in many ways.

One of the best definitions for me was that by Denny Desoutter published in 1978 by Hollis & Carter in his book 'The Boat-Owner's Practical Dictionary' which cost me then £4.50 in pre-Decimalisation and pre-Euro money:

"SEAMANSHIP: The art and science of keeping out of trouble at sea, no matter whether your craft is a fully-rigged ship or a makeshift raft."

That was his definition.

I commend it to all who go afloat.

Denny Desoutter was the founder-editor of Practical Boat Owner magazine in the UK, was also a broadcaster on maritime affairs and wrote technical articles for magazines around the world, as well as being the author of several books.

ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC TOLL

Thirty-three per cent of all hull and machinery claims for damage encountered by ships in heavy weather occur in the Atlantic and Pacific. Of these claims, 48 per cent relate to containerships, 27 per cent bulk carriers and 15 per cent for ro-ro vessels. These figures have been released by the Swedish P&I Club, shipping insurers in a new guide to 'Heavy Weather' which is intended to cut the number of insurance claims. "It provides seafarers with advice on how to avoid the many problems associated with adverse conditions, including check lists about securing cargo, guidance on course and speed and managing ballast conditions in heavy weather," says the company. "Warnings about serious weather are usually available day before the weather arrives, but we see examples of crews not managing to avoid the heavy weather, not slowing own or altering course to avoid large waves pounding the vessel."

UNITED NATIONS AND THE SEA

The United Nations can, at times, seem to be a somewhat toothless organisation, with little effective power and slow to react quickly to issues. It does have within its ambit the International Maritime Organisation, which is responsible for safety at sea and it has now been urged to place the oceans "at the forefront of its development agenda." This comes from the Global Ocean Commission which was established in February of last year. An impressive title and the membership of which is comprised of former heads of state, government officials and business leaders but, noticeably, not a lot of maritime professionals or experience amongst them. However, its first report is a pretty major piece of work about the future of the oceans, calling for the United Nations to lead a five-year rescue plan. This has not received a lot of media coverage, even though its proposals are strong, such as suggesting that there
should be "proper high seas governance," with a new global agreement for the conservation and use of marine species; the appointment of a UN special representative for the oceans to co-ordinate all laws and agreements relating to it; the creation of regional sea management organisations and ocean ministers in each nation which is a member of the United Nations with a sea border. It suggests that such a Minister would have a role across all aspects of Government which relate to any aspect of the oceans"! to create stronger co-ordination between ministries." There is exactly where those concerned about Irish Government neglect of the maritime sphere have pinpointed a major problem. Maritime matters have been dispersed across too many government departments, so that their importance has been diluted. But will Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his government colleagues heed what has been recommended by the Global Ocean Commission? Hardly likely and I wouldn't give much hope that the UN will either!

From time-to-time I hear quite a few remarks from those who think along the lines of Hermann Broch who described "those who live by the sea" as "hardly being able to form a single thought of which the sea would not be part." As a counterbalance to that quote where he failed to understand the sea, I quote President John F.Kennedy, who did understand it and his assessment: "It's because we all came from the sea. And it is a biological fact that all of us have in our veins the same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea - whether it is to sail or to watch it - we are going back from whence we came."

Fair sailing until next week...

Twitter: @Afloatmagazine @Tom MacSweeney

#tallship – You come across a reference to an island nation - the 20th largest in the world - that doesn't have a marine policy or a dedicated marine department, and you think it must be some kind of a joke. It's a ship of state without a captain, or a rudder. It adds insult to injury to discover that this same island nation was moved to the verge of bankruptcy after her inhabitants turned their backs on the ocean and invested too heavily in the land.

So much for living in a smart economy.

Not many people living in Ireland realise that it's the third biggest country in Europe, by virtue of her seabed territory of 220 million acres.

Ask any fisherman what EU membership did for our trawler fleet and you will get a quick answer. Ireland has two–thirds of European fishing waters and 3 per cent of the catch. That sell-out, as the fishing community saw it, was the beginning of the end of marine policy in Ireland.

We have in the past been able to blame a lot of our maritime ignorance on the British, with a little justification. Boat ownership by the 'native Irish' was restricted at times, and fishing permitted only by licence. But that was 400 years ago, so we're running out of excuses.

If you're searching for a recent symbol of this marine neglect, look no further than Asgard II. At 30 years old, the boat was at the end of her working life when she sank off the coast of France in 2008.

She was our maritime flagship, a national icon which had given 10,000 young people the chance to go to sea. The insurance money paid out and it went into central exchequer funds. The State showed no interest in replacing her. Until now perhaps?

There has been some sort of maritime awakening in official Ireland. In June, the Government hosted an Ocean Wealth conference declaring millions could be 'harnessed' from our seas in so many ways.

Separately, a new naval patrol vessel has arrived at a cost of E54m. Another one is expected next year. This month the Taoiseach announced he'd ordered a third.

Is it all coincidence or is Ireland moving towards a new marine game plan?

There's no doubting the public's interest in our seas.Just look at the interest in the maritime festivals around our coast this summer and the crowds that came to see Spain's 'Juan Sebastián de Elcano', the world's third largest Tall Ship in Dublin port in June.

Now there is fresh State impetus in the marine, there should in tandem be plans to replace Ireland's Tall Ship, a symbol of our maritime heritage and the possibilities offered in the seas that surround us.