Irish Naval Service Commissions Two Inshore Patrol Vessels Acquired from New Zealand

The Irish Naval Service (INS) officially commissioned two second-hand Lake-class inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) during a ceremony held in Haulbowline, Cork, on September 4. The vessels, named LÉ Aoibhinn (formerly HMNZS Rotoiti) and LÉ Gobnait (formerly HMNZS Pukaki), were acquired from the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) in March 2022. These ships will replace the decommissioned Peacock (P 41)-class coastal patrol vessels, LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara. The Lake-class inshore patrol vessels, also known as the Rotoiti class or Protector class, were originally built for the RNZN to replace the Moa-class patrol boats between 2007 and 2008. All four ships in the class were named after New Zealand lakes, with two sold to Ireland in 2022. These vessels have a displacement of 340 tonnes, an overall length of 55 meters, and can reach a top speed of 25 knots. They are manned by a crew of 26 and are equipped with three mounting points for 12.7 mm machine guns.

Designed primarily for inshore tasks within 24 nautical miles (44 km) of the coastline, the IPVs also have an operational range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km). With their improved speed and range, these vessels are well-suited to intercept large offshore fishing trawlers operating illegally in Irish waters. Each vessel is expected to achieve up to 290 available patrol days per year. The ships are built to withstand patrolling in up to Sea State 5, with waves between 2.5 to 4 meters (8.2 to 13.1 feet), and can survive in conditions up to Sea State 8, with waves between 9 to 14 meters (30 to 46 feet). However, the deployment and recovery of boats are limited to Sea State 4. These capabilities exceed those of the Moa-class vessels they replace. The shipbuilder claims that these vessels can extend the operational reach of the fleet to patrol duties in the Southern Ocean.

The acquisition of these two vessels was first reported in August 2021, when the Irish Examiner mentioned that Ireland’s Department of Defence was considering purchasing two Lake-class IPVs to bolster the Irish Naval Service’s fleet. The vessels were seen as suitable for fisheries protection and patrolling duties in the Irish Sea, especially after the UK’s departure from the European Union. This addition would enable the larger offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) to focus on Atlantic Ocean operations. On March 13, 2022, the Irish Department of Defence confirmed the purchase of the two retired Lake-class IPVs, HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukaki, for €26 million. Both vessels underwent restoration work in New Zealand to meet Lloyd’s Classification standards before being transported to Ireland. They arrived in Cork Harbour on May 14, 2023, after departing New Zealand in early April aboard the heavy-lift vessel, Happy Dynamic.

The inshore patrol vessels are expected to primarily operate in the Irish Sea and off Ireland’s Southeast coast, potentially being based at the port of Dún Laoghaire in County Dublin. The vessels can operate in conditions up to Sea State 5 and are capable of launching and recovering rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) in up to Sea State 4. The vessels introduce new electronic warfare and intelligence gathering capabilities to the fleet, bolstering the naval serviceability to adapt to the ever-changing maritime environment”. Equipment also includes Hensoldt UK’s Kelvin Hughes SharpEye navigation radar. It is intended that the two IPVs will be based on the east and southeast coasts of Ireland. There are also plans to upgrade their armaments from the current three 12.7 mm heavy machine guns to a 30 mm or 40 mm main gun. On April 5, 2024, the Irish Department of Defence officially renamed the vessels LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait. The ships were commissioned on September 4, 2024, in Haulbowline.