Irish Naval Service

[Pelican]

Net being cast globally for specialist to keep Irish naval ships at sea

A consultancy firm has been appointed to headhunt globally for a number of specialists urgently needed to keep Irish naval ships at sea.

However, it has been warned it faces competition as there are similar skills shortages in the British Royal Navy, merchant navy, and cruise line industry which will all be trying to attract the same people.

See - https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41174629.html

[Pelican]

Ex-sub commander calls Ireland ‘freeloaders’ over defence

In a recent article by Adam Kula, former nuclear submarine commander, Steve Aiken, criticises the Republic of Ireland’s government, accusing them of “freeloading” on defence matters.
He points out their reliance on the UK and its NATO allies for military support, a stance that he deems unsustainable.
Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ex-sub- ... r-defence/

[Pelican]

The Irish Navy is to be reduced to just 2 active warships due to personnel shortages.

This places huge pressure on a small service to deliver both EEZ protection as well as wider UN tasking.
See - https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023 ... er-crisis/

[Pelican]

Three arrested after Irish armed forces storm cargo ship

A major security operation was carried out off the Irish coast

Irish special forces boarded a Panamanian cargo ship

A "significant quantity" of suspected controlled drugs were found

The incident began when a fishing trawler ran aground off County Wexford

Three men have been arrested after armed forces stormed a cargo ship off the Irish coast, An Garda Síochána (Irish police) have said.

A "significant quantity" of controlled drugs were found onboard.

Naval officers fired warning shots after the Panamanian registered ship failed to stop.

The men, aged 60, 50 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of organised crime offences and are in custody in County Wexford.

It is suspected the ship, named MV Matthew, is involved in trafficking cocaine.

The elite Army Ranger Wing stormed the vessel with assistance from the Naval Service, Air Corps, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and customs officers.

See - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51lp9wj8wqo

[jbryce1437]

Three arrested after Irish armed forces storm cargo ship

A major security operation was carried out off the Irish coast

Irish special forces boarded a Panamanian cargo ship

A "significant quantity" of suspected controlled drugs were found

The incident began when a fishing trawler ran aground off County Wexford

Three men have been arrested after armed forces stormed a cargo ship off the Irish coast, An Garda Síochána (Irish police) have said.

A "significant quantity" of controlled drugs were found onboard.

Naval officers fired warning shots after the Panamanian registered ship failed to stop.

The men, aged 60, 50 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of organised crime offences and are in custody in County Wexford.

It is suspected the ship, named MV Matthew, is involved in trafficking cocaine.

The elite Army Ranger Wing stormed the vessel with assistance from the Naval Service, Air Corps, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and customs officers.

See - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51lp9wj8wqo

That was a high value cargo:

Special forces storm cartel 'mother ship': Commandos 'fast rope' from helicopter in daring raid on cargo ship carrying £136M worth of cocaine following chase across the Atlantic - after 'trawler landing craft' ran aground on Irish beach

[Pelican]

Only two Irish Naval vessels operational

Only two of the eight vessels in the Irish Naval Service are currently available for offshore patrols, raising concerns about Ireland’s maritime security.

A third ship is on standby. Cathal Berry, an independent TD (MP) and former Irish Army Ranger, was quoted as saying, “there are ‘huge implications’ for Ireland’s security”, and mentioned that the present scenario was “completely abnormal and would not be normal in any other EU country”.

The Defence Forces attribute the lack of available ships to the ongoing loss of experienced personnel and difficulties in recruiting new staff.

Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/only-tw ... erational/

[Pelican]

Sinn Féin say Irish reliance on British forces ’embarrassing’

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Matt Carthy TD, has said that reports of the Royal Navy navy ‘chasing off’ a Russian submarine from undersea cables near Cork harbour represents ‘an embarrassing product of the failure of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil governments to adequately invest in the Irish Defence Forces.
Deputy Carthy criticised the delays in ensuring that the Irish Naval Service vessels have sufficient sonar equipment.

Teachta Carthy said: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/sinn-fe ... arrassing/


Ireland must be responsible for its own maritime security

Ireland, positioned strategically in the North Atlantic, finds itself at the nexus of a vast network of undersea fibre-optic cables, carrying about 97 per cent of the world’s communications and internet traffic.
With over 550 cables spanning 1.4 million kilometres and a staggering ten trillion euros in financial transactions pulsating through them daily, the importance of these cables cannot be overstated.

Yet, as global tensions escalate, with major geopolitical players like the United States, China, and Russia increasingly at odds, the spotlight turns to Ireland’s role in overseeing and securing these critical infrastructures. The importance impacts not only Ireland but also the broader European and global community.

This raises a crucial question: Should Ireland take responsibility for its own security, especially in protecting these undersea cables that are vital not only for its own prosperity but also for the functioning of the global digital economy?

This article explores why Ireland should, now more than ever, take a proactive stance in securing its waters and, by extension, a significant portion of the world’s digital lifelines.

Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/ireland ... -security/

[ivorthediver]

Well it's quick enough to complain..... but a tad lax in protecting its own assets it seems , we have enough looking after our own shrinking assets IMO

[Pelican]

John O’Brennan

What kind of island nation has only ONE ship available to patrol its territorial waters? Answer: Ireland, which simply refuses to take defence and security seriously.

We are a neutral country that routinely relies on NATO planes and boats. Embarrassing.

See - https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41301337.html

And scroll through/down at - https://twitter.com/JohnOBrennan2/statu ... 5806204275

[Pelican]

Navy Lookout
Decommissioned Irish Naval Service OPVs LE Orla and LE Ciara towed out of Cork harbour yesterday to be scrapped.
Former HMS Swift and HMS Swallow which were stationed in Hong Kong until the 1980s.
See https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 46/photo/1
And https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAzNyMTSnPQ
Also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaAOtav3Pxo