The purchase of the Irish Navy’s biggest ship in its history, which will respond to humanitarian crisis, is set to move a step forward as information documents are to be issued across an EU platform. The project has been in planning in the Department of Defence for many years, but stepped up a gear with the recent Commission on the Defence Forces.
Sources have said the ship is anticipated to have a helicopter landing area on board, as well as other possible facilities, such as a roll-on-roll-off facility for vehicles like the Defence Forces armoured personnel carriers.
Project to purchase €200 million multi-role ship
It is understood that a number of those firms are likely to make their interest in construction known
The project will cost an estimated €200 million, however, it is understood that the exact cost will not be decided on until the completion of the tender process.
Sources, with a knowledge of the planning process, said that officials had spoken to several shipbuilding firms across Europe and wider afield either formally or informally.
It is understood that a number of those firms are likely to make their interest in construction known. With a potential date of completion hoped for 2025.
Ship likely to be built in Poland
A source also stated that there will likely be an effort to award the build of the ship to a European firm with a dockyard in Poland, the most likely location if the State opts for one of the EU companies.
It is understood that British ship builder, Babcock International Group, which previously built a number of patrol ships for the Irish Naval Service would be a potential builder. Their offering would likely be their Arrowhead MRV.