Published on
The Minister for Justice, Equality & Defence, Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D., announces that the Build of new Naval Service ship is well underway
I am pleased to announce that a significant milestone has been reached this afternoon (Friday 18th May 2012) in the build process for the first of two new ships for the Irish Naval Service when a traditional Keel Laying ceremony took place in Babcock Marine’s Appledore Shipbuilding Yard in Devon, UK.
The Keel Laying ceremony was attended by senior representatives of the Naval Service the Department of Defence, as well as Naval Service members involved in the build project.
This is not the first time that the Department of Defence and the Irish Naval Service have had an association with Appledore. Two ships, LE Roisin and LE Niamh, were built in this very dockyard over ten years ago and remain key elements of the current Irish Naval Service fleet.
The first ship is scheduled for delivery in early 2014. The second ship will follow in 2015. The new ships will replace two of the older Naval Service vessels, which will be withdrawn from operational service.