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The Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Minister for Defence yesterday officially announced the names of the two newest additions to the Naval Service fleet, which had been purchased from the New Zealand Government.
The Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV) named the LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait, are currently undergoing a comprehensive work regime at the Naval Base in Haulbowline, Cork Harbour, from where the pair arrived almost a year ago.
Originally, the twin ‘Lake’-Class IPV’s named HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukaki had served the Royal New Zealand Navy, but will be tested on crew familiarisation and training before deemed operational when deployed in the Irish Sea on the east and south east coasts.
The inshore cutters will play a role in the fishery protection service in line with Ireland’s obligations as a member of the EU. In addition, the pair, each with a core crew of 20, will also carry out several non-fishery-related tasks along with maritime surveillance operations.
The purchase of the IPV’s marks one of several measures introduced by the Irish Government to “increase the capabilities of the Naval Service in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone.”.
More from the Irish Examiner on the IPV’s that will play a role in the safeguarding of the EEZ, which remains a top priority for the country.
The IPV’s Afloat add that a formal naming and commissioning ceremony will take place later in the year.
The twin patrol cutters directly replace the Coastal Patrol Vessels (CPV) LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara, which originally served for the UK’s Royal Navy when based in Hong Kong. The pair joined the Naval Service in 1988 and were decommissioned in 2022 along with the Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV) flagship, LÉ Eithne, and the trio are to be disposed of through recycling.
Noting the above ‘file’ photo of the former flagship berthed in the Naval base basin, however it was towed away in March, marking the final departure of the vessel from Haulbowline.
