Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Babcock floats-up fourth Irish Offshore Patrol Vessel at historic ceremony

Defence

Babcock floats-up fourth Irish Offshore Patrol Vessel at historic ceremony

Babcock has marked a key milestone in the build programme for the delivery of a fourth Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Irish Naval Service as it successfully floated the 90 metre vessel currently under construction at its Appledore facility, North Devon.

The ship when completed will be formally named and commissioned into the Irish Naval Service as LÉ George Bernard Shaw.

The float-out, a significant moment in the build of a new ship, was attended by representatives from the Irish Naval Service and Babcock’s workforce. 

Bearing the name of the Irish Playwright, the ship was floated up within the main build hall and then moved out into the River Torridge at high tide to complete work at the tidal wharf.  

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT

Speaking about the float-up and undocking, the Minister with Responsibility for Defence Mr Paul Kehoe acknowledged the relationship between the Defence organisation and Babcock which has already seen five of the current in-service Irish Naval Service vessels built in the Appledore facility together with the ongoing build which will see the sixth ship delivered later this year. He complimented Babcock: “for its ability to produce very well designed and stylish ships with state of the art equipment which have already proven their value to the Naval Service both at home and on overseas missions”.

Minister Kehoe further stated that he: “looks forward to the completion of the ship later this year and its addition to the Naval Service fleet where it will be a key driver in the essential provision of defence capability in the maritime domain around our country”.

The float-up marked the long standing and successful partnership between Babcock and the Department of Defence and the Irish Naval Service at Appledore. LÉ Roisin and LÉ Niamh were the first two ships built in the Appledore facility over sixteen years ago. Babcock has successfully delivered three vessels in the same class; the LÉ Samuel Beckett, the LÉ James Joyce and the LÉ William Butler Yeats. The shipyard has also played an important role in delivering key steel sections for the assembly of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. 

Craig Lockhart, Managing Director, Babcock Naval Marine said: “This event marks a great moment as it once again showcases our workforce’s commitment and craftsmanship to designing and building first class highly capable and flexible ships.  We are proud of our work with the Irish Naval Service and the Department of Defence and look forward to delivering another cost effective and “state of the art” vessel that will support both protection and humanitarian activities long into the future.”    

Advertisement
ODU RT

The 90-metre long and 2256 tonnes vessel will have a top speed of 23 knots and a range of 6,000 miles at its cruise speed of 15 knots. With accommodation for 44 crew and an additional 10 trainee berths the patrol vessel will have a comprehensive command, control and communications package along with a 76mm gun as its main weapon. The vessel will also be able to act as a mother ship for up to three fully independent rigid inflatables.

LÉ George Bernard Shaw is due to complete in July 2018.

 

Advertisement
PTC PTC
BAE Systems

Defence

BAE Systems' Leadership Academy opens in Barrow

14 July 2025

BAE Systems has opened a new Leadership Academy in Barrow to deliver world-class educational facilities for designing and building Royal Navy submarines.

Adarga awarded expanded Defence Support AI contract

Defence

Adarga awarded expanded Defence Support AI contract

14 July 2025

Adarga has been awarded a significantly expanded AI contract by Defence Support, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).

BlueBear demos autonomous containment tech for RAF

Defence

BlueBear demos autonomous containment tech for RAF

14 July 2025

New safety containment technology for autonomous Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) has been successfully proven in a demonstration as part of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) Project CURBER.

Lane Electronics to showcase defence connectivity at MSPO

Aerospace Defence Events

Lane Electronics to showcase defence connectivity at MSPO

11 July 2025

Lane Electronics, a franchised distributor for many of the industry’s major electrical, electronic and optical connector manufacturers, will be Exhibiting at MSPO 2025 (2nd–5th September 2025, Kielce, Poland), where they will be displaying the latest connector innovations and demonstrating their UK based assembling and value add services.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Flitetec secures two distribution agreements

Aerospace Defence Events

Flitetec secures two distribution agreements

11 July 2025

Amersham based aerospace business Flitetec, has confirmed two major deals that it shook on at the recent Paris Air Show.

GKN Aerospace secures Typhoon transparencies contract

Defence

GKN Aerospace secures Typhoon transparencies contract

10 July 2025

GKN Aerospace has signed a six-year follow-on contract with BAE Systems for continued manufacture of Eurofighter Typhoon transparencies at its Luton facility, through to the end of 2030.

Advertisement
Teledyne