NORTH DEVON, England - The second of Ireland's three new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) - the LE James Joyce - was floated up at Babcock's Appledore Shipyard in North Devon, England, on November 23. Procured from Babcock Marine in 2010 under Ireland's Naval Service Patrol Vessel Replacement Program the new 90-meter, 2,256-ton ship had its keel laid a year earlier, on November 4, 2013. The sister ship and lead vessel, LE Samuel Beckett, was handed over at Babcock's Appledore shipyard in late April before being commissioned into Irish Navy service on May 17.
The new ships are intended to replace the Irish Navy's three oldest vessels, the Deirdre class LE Emer (commissioned in 1978), LE Aoife (commissioned in 1979), and LE Aisling (commissioned in 1980).
Ireland hews to a 30-year in-service rule for its surface vessels. By 2015, all but two of the Irish Navy's eight vessels will be at least 30 years of in-service age and with this in mind Ireland launched the OPV procurement process in 2007 with an eye on replacing the full Deirdre class complement of three ships.
The current contract with Babcock included an option for a third OPV which was picked up in June. First steel was cut for the third ship in September and the keel-laying is scheduled for April 2015. Delivery of the final ship is expected in summer 2016.
The LE James Joyce is slated to undergo sea trials and then delivery in early 2015. It will then join the LE Samuel Beckett in Irish Navy service where it will perform fishery protection, search-and-rescue, anti-pollution and maritime security missions.
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