Second Babcock-built Irish OPV officially named and commissioned
Above: LÉ Samuel Beckett in Drydock.
The vessel, named LÉ James Joyce, was built at Babcock’s Appledore shipyard in North Devon and like her sister vessel LÉ Samuel Becket, which was delivered by Babcock last year, LÉ James Joyce will undertake a range of duties including fishery protection, search and rescue, anti-pollution and maritime security duties, and is designed to provide many years of service, primarily in the North Atlantic.
The 90 metre, 2256 tonne OPV has autonomous engine rooms and is capable of a top speed of 23 knots and a range of 6,000 nautical miles at its cruise speed of 15 knots on a single engine.
The vessel’s 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 vessel 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). A crew of 44, plus ten trainee berths, are accommodated to high comfort and habitability standards.
Babcock Director, Sean Donaldson: “We are delighted to have built, trialled and delivered the second of these highly capable OPVs to the Irish Naval Service. With the first new ship LÉ Samuel Beckett now 18 months into active patrols she has attracted international attention in terms of excellence, capability and performance.”
At the ceremony Simon Coveney the Minister for Defence welcomed personnel from Babcock who have been involved in the design and build of the ship and said:
“The Babcock Appledore workforce has a proud tradition of shipbuilding going back many years – you should all be justifiably proud of the craftsmanship evident when you look at the ship in front of us this afternoon.”
LÉ James Joyce is the second OPV to be built by Babcock at Appledore for the Irish Naval Service. A third Irish OPV is now well underway and is due for delivery in summer 2016.
