3 New Navy Vessels for Irish Naval Service

1874 wrote: »

The problem is, there is never the money, in the good or the bad times Ireland needs an effective Naval service (just as it needs an air contingent and an armed military force).
There wasn't the money before the crash in the Celtic tiger, there certainly wasn't the money after the crash and there isn't the money since recovery and up till COVID and the money wont be there after, there is simply no interest or will (except for some instances for Officers, but limited or nothing for enlisted). It is not a political topic.
There is no interest in reforming or paying people in the PDF or helping retain people, and limited option in terms of training, especially for enlisted people.
Every resource (I mean people and equipment) has to be accounted for and made useful, until the defence forces has a comprehensive means to manage its resources and people capable and qualified to do so, little progress can be made. Capable and qualified people aren't going to be interested in staying or joining if conditions and pay arent good.
The PDF is not managed by the State well or seem like it is considered as a trusted resource. The PDF direct management doesnt seem to have any comprehensive long term plan other than day to day, week to week, year to year.


Not being able to retain people to crew a ship or maintain or fly aircraft shows there are systemic problems at a high level and this filters down to lower management levels.


Formerly served in the PDF, somewhat of a rant over

Larbre34 wrote: »

Theres more to it than the practical application of a sail training vessel (and I don't wish to sound like JonnyBW here) but a mainly maritime nation like ours should have a sea going totem, a representative among the sailing ships of the World, a symbol of pride and ancient maritime heritage and bearer of the flag. Such a vessel can be a great asset to overseas promotion, trade and tourism, a place to host and exchange young mariners to teach and to learn.

Dohvolle wrote: »

She was designed by a naval architect, who had built one other sailing vessel before that(Which also ended up as a museum ship), and built by apprentices with no experience of building sailing vessels. It took 6 years to build it. The ship it was based on would have been built in a fraction of the time using no modern tools or methods. It was sitting complete, except for masts in Blennerville in 1998 but did not make it to the water until 2000. They had to add a steel keel for stability midway through her building and this makes her quite "stiff" in response.
Perhaps the designer was so focused on the design of the original he neglected to remember that these ships in their time never travelled empty. Many buildings in New England are built with stone quarried in Cork, brought over as ballast by ships bringing Grain and cotton back from the Americas to Europe.

🙄🙄🙄

I have it on reasonable authority that that the Lake Class boats will be based in Dun Laoghaire once secured.

The recent abolition, by the previous Govt, of a number of Harbour Companies, including DL, left the County Council there holding the baby somewhat, being saddled with significant debt, all while investment dried up and major remedial works were required to the main Piers and other berths and facilities.

I understand that unwritten commitments by the current Govt to an international standard marine leisure and training facility, as well as the location of a small Irish Sea naval station, to accommodate these two vessels and their active crew, in order to redress the balance somewhat, have been made.

No, that has been let by the Council to a private investor for use as an innovation hub and shared working space, delayed until the pandemic situation improves.

I have heard talk of renovating and repurposing the old Coastguard Station building, just to the west of the Irish Lights facility. But as you say, a minimum of standard facilities will be needed and that site may not be up to the job.

Imagine my shock when I clicked the link and the upgrade isn't a Sylver 48 cell Vertical Launch System and Selex fire control suite.