List of Irish state vessels

Last updated

This list identifies active and former maritime vessels of the Irish state, both civilian and military. This list is incomplete.

Contents

Active

Irish Naval Service

Ships
ClassImageTypeShips No. Comm. DisplacementNote
Patrol vessels
Samuel Beckett class LE Samuel Beckett.jpg Offshore patrol vessel (OPV) Samuel Beckett P6120142,256 tonnesIn service on a "three-ship [..] operational rotation" as of July 2024 [1]
James Joyce P622015
William Butler Yeats P632016
George Bernard Shaw P642019 [2]
Róisín class LE Niamh (P52).jpg Large patrol vessel (LPV) Róisín P5119991,500 tonnesIn reserve as of July 2024. [1]
Niamh P522001Under re-fit as of July 2024. [1]
Lake class HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukaki in 2010.jpg Inshore patrol vessel (IPV) Aoibhinn P712024 [3] 340 tonnesUndertaking "Maritime Defence and Security Operations" as of July 2024 [4]
Gobnait P722024 [3]
Other vessels
ClassImageTypeName No. Entered ServiceDisplacementNote
Motor launches
Cygnus Typhoon [5] Motor launchFionnghualaYP012024 [6] [7] 30 tonnesMulti-purpose motor launch used by Naval Service Reserve for coastal patrols, port security and training. [8] Three more on order. [9]

Garda Síochána

Garda Patrol Boat Colm na Cora on the Liffey Garda Patrol Boat on the Liffey.jpg
Garda Patrol Boat Colm na Cora on the Liffey
QuantityTypeCommissioned
1Arvor 250 Inland Patrol Boat2007
1Targa 31 Colm na Cora Inland Patrol Boat [10] 2000
1Osprey Rigid Inflatable Boat1996
3Delta Inflatable Boat2007
1Zodiac Inflatable Boat1999
3Zodiac Inflatable Boat2013
5Other inflatable boats2009–2011 [11]

Revenue Commissioners

TypeImageNameCommissionedLengthDisplacement
Customs Cutter Irish Revenue Commissioners Cutter (RCC) Faire.jpg RCC Suirbhéir [12] 200423.6 metres50 tonnes
RCC Faire [13] 2009
RCC Cosaint [14] 202535 metres

Marine Institute

NameImageCommissionedDisplacement (t)Length (m)Type
RV Tom Crean RV Tom Crean - Horgans Quay Cork - 1 Dec 2022 - 3.jpg 2022 [15] 52.8 [15] Multi-Purpose Research Vessel [15]
RV Celtic Explorer [16] RV Celtic Explorer (cropped).jpg 20032425 [17] 65.5Multi-Purpose Research Vessel

Geological Survey of Ireland

NameImageTypeEntered ServiceDisplacement (t)Length (m)Notes
RV Keary [18] [19] Near-Shore Hydrographic Survey Vessel20093615.5Built by Veecraft Marine, South Africa
RV Geo [18] [20] Shallow Water Survey Vessel20077.4Redbay Stormforce RIB
RV Tonn [18] [21] Shallow Water Survey Vessel20157.9Cheetah Catamaran
RV Mallet [18] [22] Inshore Hydrographic Research Vessel18
RV Lir [18] [23] Shallow Water Survey Vessel11Redbay Stormforce RIB
RV Galtee [18] [24] Shallow Water Survey Vessel11Redbay Stormforce RIB

Commissioners of Irish Lights

NameImageTypeEntered ServiceDisplacement (t)Length (m)Notes
ILV Granuaile [25] The ILV 'Granuaile' off Bangor - geograph.org.uk - 1763086.jpg Multipurpose Support Vessel20003,903 [26] 80

Dublin Fire Brigade

NameImageTypeEntered ServiceLength (m)Notes
Rescue One [27] Redbay Stormforce RIB20227.4Search and rescue

Dublin Port

NameImageTypeEntered ServiceDisplacement (t)Length (m)Notes
Shackleton [28] Dublin Port Tugs Beaufort and Shackleton.jpg Harbour Tug2010284 gross24Built by Astilleros Zamakona [29]
Beaufort [30]

Inland Fisheries Ireland

NameImageTypeEntered ServiceLength (m)Notes
Delta 1 - 12 [31] [32] [33] Delta 780HX RIB20187.8mFishery protection of rivers, lakes and coastal waters

Former

Irish Naval Service

The following vessels have served with the Naval Service: [34] [35] [36]

NameImageType No. Service YearsFateNotes
 Macha HMS Borage FL2711.jpg Flower-class corvette 011946-1970Sold for scrapFormer HMS Borage (K120)
 Maev 021946-1972Former HMS Oxlip (K123)
 Cliona 031947-1970Former HMS Bellwort (K114)
 Grainne HMS Glasserton (M1141).jpg Ton-class minesweeper CM101971–1987Sold to a Spanish company for scrapFormer HMS Oulston
 Banba CM111971–1984Former HMS Alverton
 Fola CM121971–1987Former HMS Blaxton
 Deirdre The LE "Deirdre" at Dun Loaghaire - geograph.org.uk - 626538.jpg Offshore patrol vessel P201972–2001Sold for scrapPrototype of the P20 class
 Setanta Auxiliary ship A151976-1984Sold for scrapFormer Irish Lights vessel Isolde
 Ferdia Patrol vesselA161977-1978Chartered for one yearFormer MFV Helen Basse
 Emer LE Aisling.jpg Offshore patrol vessel [37] P211978-2013Acquired by Nigerian Navy Modified version of the LÉ Deirdre
 Aoife P221979–2015Donated to Maltese Navy
 Aisling P231980–2016Acquired by Libyan National Army
 Eithne LE 'Eithne', Tall Ships Belfast 2009 - geograph.org.uk - 1450163.jpg Helicopter patrol vessel [38] P311984-2022Sold for scrapEquipped with helicopter hangar and deck
 Orla IE Orla in Dublin.jpg Coastal patrol vessel [39] P411989–2022Former HMS Swift
 Ciara P421989–2022Former HMS Swallow

Marine and Coastwatching Service

The Marine and Coastwatching Service was a naval service that operated during The Emergency. In 1946, the service was integrated into the Defence Forces as the Naval Service and these ships were sold off. [40] [41] [42]

NameImageTypeService YearsFateNotes
PV Muirchú HMCS Malaspina E-75597.jpg Patrol vessel 1939–1947Sold in Jan 1947 for scrap, but sank off Saltee Islands in May.Launched in 1908 and served the Irish Free State from 1923 as an unarmed fisheries protection vessel. Later armed with a 12 pounder gun.
SS Fort Rannoch [43] Armed trawler1939–1947Sold in July 1947 to commercial service, and scrapped in 1963.Leased by Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1937 for fisheries protection. Later armed with a 12 pounder gun.
SS SharkMinelayer1940–1948Sold in 1948 and scrapped in 1952.Built in 1891 as trawler, and later a salvage vessel.
Isallt Sail training 1940-1945Sold in 1945 and sank off Wicklow in December 1947.A wooden three masted schooner built in Wales in 1909.
M1 M1 Irish Motor Torpedo Boat.jpg Motor Torpedo Boat 1940-1948Sold between 1948-50 to Colonel James Fitzmaurice M1 and M2 were originally built for Estonia and Latvia respectively. Built by Thornycroft, they were 72 feet in length, displaced 32 tons, a crew of ten, and powered by Isotta-Fraschini engines giving a top speed of 40 knots. They were armed with two 18" torpedoes, a 0.303" Hotchkiss machine gun, and two depth charges.

M4-6 were slightly larger, powered by Rolls Royce engines with a lower speed of 28 knots, and replaced the Hotchkiss with a 20mm Madsen cannon. Their small size meant that these boats were not suited to Atlantic waters. [44] [45]

M21940-1948
M31940-1948
M41942-1948
M51942-1948
M61943-1948

Coastal and Marine Service

The Coastal and Marine Service was a short-lived naval service that operated during The Irish Civil War. The Service was disbanded in March 1924 after only several months of existence, and all of its ships, except Muirchú, were sold off. [40] [42] [46] [47]

NameImageTypeNotes
SS DaintySalvage Tug/Patrol sloopSTOIC class tug built in Chepstow in 1918 for the Admiralty. She had a length of 142 feet, a displacement of 468 tons, and armed with a 12-pounder gun.

Sold to French interests, renamed SS Cherbourgeois. [48]

PV Muirchú HMCS Malaspina E-75597.jpg Patrol vesselLaunched in 1908 as HMY Helga (Pendant No 064). Armed with a 12 pounder gun.

Disarmed and transferred to Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for fisheries protection.

John Dunn (Adty No 3741) RV George Bligh.jpeg Mersey-class trawler The Mersey trawlers were a class of over 100 naval trawlers built for the Royal Navy during World War I.

The trawlers were 148 feet in length, with a displacement of 438 tons, a crew of 15, a speed of 11 knots, and armed with a 12-pounder gun.

John Dutton (Adty No 3739)
William Honnor (Adty No 3796)
Robert Murray (Adty No 4256)
Thomas Thresher (Adty No 3572)
Christopher Dixon (Adty No 3563)
TR.24 Canadian naval trawler TR-9.jpg TR series trawler The TR trawlers were a Canadian version of the Castle-class trawler built by Canadian Vickers, Montreal during World War I.

The trawlers were 133 feet in length, with a displacement of 279 tons, a crew of 15, a speed of 10 knots, and armed with a 12-pounder gun.

TR.25
TR.27
TR.29
TR.30
TR.31
Inishirrer (Official No. 135637) Drifter Built in Arklow in 1913, she was 65 feet in length, and displaced 51 gross registered tons. [49] [50]

Acquired from Congested Districts Board in August 1922. Armed with machine guns

John S Summers

(Official No 125960) (Admiralty No 2147) [51]

Built in Lowestoft in 1910, she was 77 feet length, and displaced 62 gross registered tons. [52]

Was hired by Royal Navy as a net vessel during World War I. [53] Armed with machine guns

ML1 Motor Launch ML 59.jpg Motor Launch Four ELCO motor launches were acquired in May 1922 for the Marine Investigations Department.

ML2 sank off Cornwall in July 1922 while being delivered. The launches were 80 feet in length, with a displacement of 37 tons, a crew of 8, a speed of 19 knots, and armed with a 3-pounder gun. [54]

ML2
ML3
ML4
190 The Royal Navy during the First World War Q18000.jpg Steam pinnace A pinnace is a type of ship's boat.

They were 50 feet in length, displaced 14.4 tons, a speed of 12 knots, and armed with machine guns. [55]

199

There were also five unnamed patrol boats of unknown type used for river patrol.

Marine Institute

NameImageCommissionedRetiredDisplacement (t)Length (m)Type
RV Lough Beltra [56] 1976 [57] 1997 [58] 21Fishing trawler/research vessel
RV Celtic Voyager [59] Celtic Voyager (IMO 9154842) -144529 (44006543874) (cropped).jpg 199712 July 2022 [60] 340 [61] 31.4Multi-Purpose Research Vessel

Coiste an Asgard

NameImageType Sail plan Service YearsFate
Asgard II [62] Asgard II ..JPG Sail training Brigantine 1981-2008Sunk in Bay of Biscay [63]

See also

References

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