Navy vessel heads out from Cork on its maiden voyage

The newest addition to the naval service’s fleet, LÉ Aoibhinn, went to sea for the first time with the Irish navy on Monday morning.

LÉ Aoibhinn (P71) along with the LÉ Gobnait (P72) are the two inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) that were delivered to Cork last May to replace the decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara.

The IPVS were purchased from the New Zealand Government in March 2022.

A spokesperson for the Naval Service confirmed to The Echo this week that LÉ Aoibhinn proceeded to sea for the first time with the Irish navy on Monday morning and will commence its initial operating capability (IOC) process.

“This process will allow the ship’s company to develop the skills and knowledge to safely operate a new type of ship in the Irish navy fleet.

“This process will take a period of time and currently the Royal New Zealand Navy are assisting us in our familiarisation to the inshore patrol vessels,” the spokesperson explained.

The spokesperson added that, on completion of the IOC process, the LÉ Aoibhinn will be put through the full operational capability (FOC) process which is used to ensure the ship can complete the full range of military taskings required for it to commence maritime defence and security operations.

LÉ Aoibhinn is expected to achieve FOC later in 2024.

“On completion of LÉ Aoibhinn’s FOC process and subject to continued and increased recruitment into the Navy and a stabilisation in personnel numbers serving, focus will move to LÉ Gobnait commencing her IOC process and onward to FOC thereafter,” the spokesperson continued.

Fishery protection

Speaking last month, Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin said the IPVs main daily tasking will be to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with Ireland’s obligations as a member of the EU.

They will also carry out a number of other non-fishery related tasks in tandem with maritime surveillance.

The core ship’s company complement is 20, with the capacity to take up to 16 others.

Their area of operations will be the Irish Sea on the East and South East Coast.

The two Lake-Class inshore patrol vessels are the former HMNZS Rotoiti and Pukaki.

They will be the eighth class of ship to be commissioned into the Irish Naval Service since its foundation in 1946.