Ireland: LE Samuel Beckett Docks in Haulbowline, County Cork

The Irish Navy ship LE Samuel Beckett arrived safely to Naval Service HQ, Haulbowline this morning ahead of commissioning, which will take place on May 17th in Dublin.

The biggest Irish Navy ship, LE Samuel Beckett, was launched in November 2013 and is scheduled to enter active service early this year.

Her primary mission will be fisheries protection, search and rescue, and maritime protection operations, including vessel boardings.

The Irish Navy ordered two ships of the Samuel Beckett-class from Babcock Marine in 2010, their total value being €100 mil.

The second ship of this class is LE James Joyce, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2015.

The vessels have been designed by STX Marine and have much in common with an earlier design, the Roisin Class, in service with the Irish Naval Service since 1999.

They are planned to carry remotely operated submersibles and a decompression chamber for divers, which is intended to add enhanced capabilities to undertake search and rescue, search and recovery, undersea exploration and increased sea area surveillance.

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Naval Today Staff, April 30, 2014; Image: Irish Navy