The second of the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) being built by Babcock
for the Irish Naval Service, LÉ James Joyce, was floated for
the first time yesterday, at Babcock's Appledore shipyard in North Devon,
marking a significant milestone in the build programme. |
The second of the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) being built by Babcock
for the Irish Naval Service, LÉ James Joyce, was floated for
the first time yesterday, at Babcock's Appledore shipyard in North Devon,
marking a significant milestone in the build programme.
The propulsion system utilises a diesel electric drive system providing
a loiter function of up to 6 knots. A comprehensive command, control
and communications package is coupled to the main weapon; a 76mm gun,
as well as two 20mm cannons and four general purpose machine guns. The
OPV is also equipped with configurable, serviced mission modules, with
deck space to operate mission specific equipment, and to act as a mother
ship for two fully independent fast pursuit Rigid Hulled Inflatable
Boats (RIBs). The vessel – which accommodates a crew of 44, plus
ten trainee berths, to high comfort and habitability standards –
is designed to provide an operational capability for many years of service
in the North Atlantic, its main area of operation.
Babcock Shipbuilding Director, Andrew Hamilton, said: “We
are delighted to have achieved this important and highly visible milestone
to quality, budget and schedule, demonstrating our innovation and capability
in this field. We will now be focusing on completion of the programme,
ready for sea trials and then handover of a further highly capable OPV
to the Irish Naval Service on-time and in-budget in early 2015. Work
is also now underway on the third OPV, with first steel cut in September
this year and keel laying scheduled for April 2015.”
LÉ James Joyce will join LÉ Samuel Becket, now operational
following delivery by Babcock to the Irish Naval Service earlier this
year. The OPVs will undertake a range of duties including fishery protection,
search and rescue, anti-pollution and maritime security duties, including
vessel boardings.
Babcock was awarded the contract to build the two OPVs by Ireland’s
Department of Defence in 2010, with the option to build a third being
confirmed in June this year for delivery to the Irish Naval Service
in summer 2016. |
