#Drones&Subs – The Naval Service will more than halve the age of its eight-vessel fleet, reports the Irish Independent, when the third ship in a €162m order is delivered by 2016.

The news came as the navy's second new vessel, James Joyce, is now concluding sea trials as previously reported on Afloat.ie, and will be delivered within weeks for commissioning in May.

A sister ship to the LE Samuel Beckett (P61) which was delivered (and commissioned) last year, James Joyce was built at Babcock Marine's shipyard in north Devon.

A third vessel, the order for which was confirmed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, is now under construction and is scheduled for a late 2016 delivery.

The delivery of the as-yet-unnamed third offshore patrol vessel will dramatically reduce the age profile of the navy's Haulbowline-based fleet.

For much more, click for the report here.