Another patrol ship promised

The Minister for Defence has said he is committed to purchasing a ninth ship for the Naval Service at a cost of more than £20 million.

Mr Smith, who attended the commissioning of the eighth vessel, the LE Roisin, in Devon last week, said he had hoped to confirm the order for another vessel with the shipyard at that event. However, EU approval was required as it is supporting the re-equipment plan under its fisheries protection budget.

The LE Roisin is the first new patrol ship in 15 years, and its commissioning represents "a very significant occasion" for the Naval Service, the Minister said.

The eighth ship was not fitted with its controversial gun during photo-calls on Thursday because it does not come under EU fisheries protection criteria. The 76mm Oto Melara weapon will be installed after the vessel comes into Cork harbour next month. The ship will be under the command of Lieut Cdr Tom Doyle from Carlow.

The P51 ship was ordered by the Minister almost two years ago, and its design aims to combine the speed of the existing coastal patrol vessels with the endurance of the offshore patrol craft. It has a speed of 22 knots, and is equipped with two 6.5m rigid inflatables with a single-point launching system allowing a crew to board and disembark on the ship's deck. This will permit safer recovery of injured persons in marine rescue situations.

The vessel is also equipped with an optical surveillance system which can carry out coastal searches using thermal imaging. The aft deck has accommodation for submersible equipment for diving and search-and-recovery operations.

The ship can accommodate 47 crew, but the 44 agreed with the Department of Defence will be drawn from existing naval strength. It has provision for female quarters, right up to the captain's berth, for the first woman commander.

However, it lacks one vital design feature now standard in the latest Killybegs supertrawlers, a sauna.

Mr Smith said he would now begin in earnest with the reorganisation of the service. He is expecting the implementation plan drawn up from the Price Waterhouse review next week, while the Air Corps plan is expected within a month.

The naming was carried out in Appledore Shipyard in Devon by his wife, Mrs Mary Smith. The Minister said it was coincidental that he has a daughter called Roisin; he also has a daughter called Aisling, the name of another patrol ship.