Former naval patrol cutter twins purchased by the Irish Government last year from the New Zealand Government have begun their voyage to Irish waters.

The two ‘Lake’ class cutters Rotoiti and Pukaki which had served in the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) as Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV), were loaded by crane onto a heavy-lift cargo ship in Auckland Harbour on Friday.

A delivery voyage of the cutters are expected to take around a month with an arrival at the Naval Service base at Haulbowline in Cork Harbour.

The IPV’s which were custom-built in 2009 at an Australia shipyard for the RNZN have already been given Naval Service Pennant Numbers P71 and P72, though the cutters have yet to be renamed.

In addition the cutters were modified by the New Zealand Defence Force as Afloat previously reported with work overseen by the Naval Service and the Department of Defence. 

Also the twins received a repaint of hulls, however following delivery to Ireland, the cutters will undergo a further programme of works to fit additional Naval Service equipment.

There will also be a training programme for the crew of each of the 25 knot capable cutters which are expected to enter service early next year to serve operations on the Irish Sea.

Such operations will be specific to the east and south-east coasts.

The Irish Examiner has more here.

Former Royal New Zealand Navy 'Lake' class inshore patrol cutters designed for maritime surveillance and patrol missions, are being transferred to Ireland by the New Zealand government on Tuesday at a cost of €26m.

The two inshore patrol vessels (IPV) built in Australia, HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukakiyet were named after lakes in New Zealand. The yet to be renamed (related story) cutters are expected to enter service early next year and operate on the Irish Sea.

This follows a year-long regeneration project with the 2009 commissioned cutters that were modified by the New Zealand Defence Forces and partners. The project work was overseen by the Irish Naval Service and the Department of Defence.

Attending the ceremonial handover of the IPV's was the Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue who represented Ireland at the event held in the New Zealand capital Auckland.

“I am aware of the considerable work that has been carried out here in New Zealand to restore the vessels to class and to fit specific equipment required by the Irish Naval Service,” he said.

As Afloat reported the IPV pair were purchased last year and that the Minister thanked everyone involved.

The 55m long cutters are capable of speeds up to 25 knots (46km/h). When they enter on the Irish Sea, they will operate on the east and south-east coast.

The IPV's, each of 340 tonnes displacement, will be taken on board a heavy-lift cargo ship which is due to arrive at Auckland so to be transported on the long delivery voyage to the Naval Service base at Haulbowline.

As the Irish Examiner reports on more, the minimum transit time to reach Cork Harbour is a month.

The Government is considering carrying out a public naming competition for two inshore patrol cutters that the State has acquired from New Zealand. The pair of 'Lake' class cutters were originally commissioned for the Royal New Zealand Navy in 2009.

Simon Coveney, the Minister of Defence has proposed the innovative idea, however there will be safeguards implemented to prevent a recurrence of what took place in the UK of the 'Boaty McBoatface' debacle when the outcome of a public online vote turned farcical, however the research vessel was officially named the RRS Sir David Attenborough

The new patrol cutters will be introduced into the Naval Service where the majority of the fleet reflects the names of famous male Irish writers, they are the L.E.Samuel Beckett, James Joyce and George Bernard Shaw. In addition the third of the OPV90 class L.E. William Butler Yeats, Afloat adds is similarly named to that of Irish Ferries cruiseferry, the W.B. Yeats.

The Independent.ie which has more on the story, reports that Mr Coveney is believed to favour that at least one of the warships be named after a woman. This would enable the public to be offered a slate of options – from Maria Edgeworth, Lady Gregory, Katharine Tynan or Peig Sayers.

As for male writers they could include such legendary figures as Bram Stoker, Seamus Heaney, Austin Clarke and Padraic Colum.