#AdoptedPorts – The ‘Freedom of Entry to the County’ bestowed to the Naval Service by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council last month took place in the harbour where flagship LE Eithne is twinned with the town. So what about the rest of fleet inquires Jehan Ashmore.

Of the current eight-strong fleet, not all of the patrol vessels are profiled on the Defence Forces website in regards to ships adopted ports as well as respective charities. The profile also gives significant events of the ship, origin of name, the commander in charge and vessel characteristics. All this can be consulted here.

Afloat contacted the Department of Defence to fill in these gaps concerning both 'updated' adopted ports and charities supported by the crew. Periodically they change to reflect crew changes and as priorities shift. The 'adoption' of a charity added the Department should be viewed as informal and is designed to give a focus to any crew fundraising initiative. It was also emphasised they should not be viewed as exclusive of other charities or causes.

Below is the completed list and should you observe any of the patrol ships making calls to their respective adopted port, consider the relationship that links crew and communities. In addition the important role they play in supporting charities and also from the public.

L.É. Eithne (P31)
Adopted Port: Dun Laoghaire
Ships Charity: Our Lady’s for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin

L.É. Orla (P41)
Adopted Port: Dingle
Ships Charity: Marymount Hospice

L.É. Ciara (P42)
Adopted Port Kinsale
Ships Charity: Mercy Hospital Foundation

L.É. Roisín (P51)
Adopted Port: Dublin
Ships Charity: Children's Ward Cork University Hospital

L.É. Niamh (P52)
Adopted Port: Limerick
Ships Charity: St. Munchin's neo-natal Hospital, Limerick

LÉ Samuel Beckett (P61)
Adopted Port: Cork
Ships Charity: Mercy Children's Ward

LÉ James Joyce (P62)
Adopted Port: Waterford
Ships Charity: Children's ward, Waterford Hospital

LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63)
Adopted Port: Galway

The above OPV90 class is the newest addition to the fleet, having only been commissioned into service in the ship’s adopted port of Galway in October 2016. As for a chosen charity, according to the Defence Forces this will take effect in the next few months.