3 New Navy Vessels for Irish Naval Service

You think Sinn Féin, who until relatively recently refused to even recognise the legitimacy of the Defence Forces of this State and who are still unclear about if or whether it would allow the DF continue participate in UN backed missions, will be the ones to fix it?

Pull the other one, its got massive shiny bells on.

I seem to remember another TD from the same constituency who was also a Government minister in charge of the department that seems to be one of the other main stumbling blocks towards any change in the status quo at the same time? But sure now that hes over in Finance I'm sure things will be better...

Coveney to be fair brought thru the Cion on Defence and index-linked budget increase for the level 2. It is D/per who oversee terms and condition in terms of pay, allowances etc …. That didn’t work out too well so far

So according to MM, a reduction of 33% in Fleet strength, amounting to a 56% reduction in 18 months, won't affect the NS capacity to carry out its tasks.

Thats the best I ever heard.

Do better Meehole. A lot better.

Realistically, for the last 2 years we have been operating as a 5 ship fleet, and fishery inspections are being done by a private contractor on behalf of the EU.

Yeah that was announced a while ago, after all the issues with the rest of the surplus ships it was picked as the least worse option. The we could always have gone the reported Brazilian way and just let it float off into the ocean like their old carrier…

https://breakingdefense.com/2023/02/ireland-will-never-be-in-a-position-to-engage-in-antisubmarine-warfare-defense-minister/

If some council are willing to take 100% of the costs, fine have her, as I've said before its only going to end badly, but the Navy or DF shouldn't be asked for a cent for any works or support. Other than that, give her a clean end and scrap her.

No totally agree scrap yard is where it should go but didnt alot of the media a few weeks ago say it was goingbto Dublin Port

I think I'd be insisting that if any body decides to run and maintain eithne , that they get a proper estimate of how much it'll cost annually to maintain,

In a few years some save the eithne body will be trying to guilt trip the navy into lifting it off a river bottom somewhere and replating the hull ..

...

And the money for sustaining them in sea going condition with a base crew is going to come from where exactly? Moreover when you consider the berthing arrangements of them, surely you couldn't pick worse ships of what we have to use?

Been there myself, but I was with a couple of lads who had no interest so I didn't get as much time as would have wanted on her, but yeah a hell of a museum. But even then when you think of the costs of sustaining her...

Many years ago as a deck cadet, I trained aboard what is now floating restaurant Cill Airne. It went to "sea" about 10 times a year, max, usually no further than the old Daunt Lightship off Cork Harbour to take advantage of the lead lines for compass swinging. (google it).

As a then 30 year old vessel that had been retired from its active role 2 decades earlier, it required 2 full time employees to maintain it, Bosun and Stoker. In addition it had the expertise of the nautical dept college lecturers (all former ships masters or marine engineers) to do any technical maintenance, and the many classes passing through to carry out routine maintenance as part of their course work. To top it all off every summer it went for a full bottom survey, initially on the "gridiron" opposite the Marina in Cork, later to one of the Floating docks in Rushbrooke. Cork RTC had a considerable budget to maintain this vessel.

And this was just for a relatively small diesel powered passenger tender.

He is my local councillor, and unsurprisingly a waste of space. He ventured from his leafy home recently to try out the new cycle paths that have been built. He did not venture into the nearby industrial estates with potholes the size of the grand canyon, who's workers have been inconvenienced by the paving works. (which do not lead into the industrial estate, oddly). He went nowhere that he might have to engage with his constituents, instead happy to get the gopro footage of his lone cycle for his social media...

Anyone making statements to the effect that a former naval vessel originally maintained by a large crew 24/7 should first hold up a feasibility study showing how they will fund it.

Or else shut up.

To put kids on the Ciara & Orla would be madness.

Little Johnny falling down the stairwell. Little Timmy falling off the top bunk in the 11 berth.

Warships are not kid friendly.

Is there a US Museum warship the size of the peacocks offering such a thing? The Peacock was designed as a direct replacement for the Ton Class in Hong Kong Harbour service. Priorities for space was the 2 engines, the Main gun usually found on a frigate, and 2 RHIBs for the RM team deployed aboard. Whatever space was left was used for crew. There are no wide open spaces.