Irish Naval Service orders fourth VARD 7 090 OPV from Appledore

Generic rendering of offshore patrol vessel (OPV) VARD 7 090 in water

Ireland’s Department of Defence has awarded Babcock International Group a contract extension that will see Babcock’s Appledore shipbuilding facility in North Devon, England, build a fourth Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the Irish Naval Service (INS).

The new vessel follows the successful build and launch of two earlier OPV’s for the Irish Naval Service at Appledore; LÉ Samuel Beckett and second in class LÉ James Joyce.  A third ship, the LÉ William Butler Yeats is currently being built and is due to embark on sea trials in July 2016.

The yet unnamed fourth OPV will be due for completion in summer 2018 and will support the Irish Naval Service for decades to come.

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