Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has secured Cabinet approval to acquire three new naval vessels, with an option to buy a further two. The acquisitions were approved, as expected, at yesterday's Cabinet meeting and will cost the State about €190 million.
The move is part of a plan to replace three of the oldest vessels in the Naval Service, the LE Emer, LE Aoifeand LE Aisling, which were commissioned nearly 30 years ago and are coming to the end of their working lives. These vessels are scheduled to be decommissioned by 2011 or 2012.
The approval yesterday to move to tender stage for the three vessels comes after a departmental study group of civilian and naval personnel recommended the investment.
One of the three ships approved for purchase is an "enhanced patrol vessel", which is likely to cost in the region of €90 million. It will be considerably larger than any of the Naval Service's current eight vessels and will have a much greater range.
The vessel will be up to 140m (460ft). It will be able to carry 20 armoured personnel carriers, around 15-120 12m (40ft) containers and up to 150 troops. It will be the largest naval vessel the Defence Forces has ever owned.
Its acquisition will mean the forces will, for the most part, no longer be forced to rely on commercial carriers to move large shipments of equipment needed for overseas deployments, such as the recent UN mission in Liberia.
The Cabinet has also approved the option to acquire a second enhanced patrol vessel. The exercise of this option needs further Government approval and would only arise after the first vessel has been delivered and has been in use for some time.
Under yesterday's Cabinet decision an additional €100 million will be spent on a further two replacement ships. These "offshore patrol vessels" will be up to 90m (295ft) and similar to the largest vessels in today's fleet.
