LÉ James Joyce explained

LÉ James Joyce (P62) is a (OPV) which was built by Babcock Marine Appledore for the Irish Naval Service.^{[1] [2]} Although criticised by a descendant of the author,^{[3] [4]} the ship was named for writer James Joyce.^{[5] [6]}

Design and construction

In October 2010, the Irish Naval Service ordered a number of new offshore patrol vessels from Babcock Marine, a UK-based shipbuilder operating out of Appledore, North Devon. Like the similar Róisín-class OPV, James Joyce was designed by Vard Marine.^[7]

In July 2013, the name of the vessel, James Joyce was announced by the Minister for Defence Alan Shatter in Dáil Éireann.^[8]

Operational history

The ship was completed and floated out of the shipyard in November 2014.^[9] Following sea-trials and a number of delays it was delivered to the Naval Service in mid-2015.^{[6] [10] [11]} The official naming and commissioning ceremony was held at Dún Laoghaire on 1 September 2015. In November 2016, personnel from the LÉ James Joyce boarded the FV Margiris as part of a fisheries inspection.^{[12] [13]}

Notes and References

1. News: Gallacher. Neil. Devon-built Samuel Beckett ship handed to Irish Naval Service. BBC News. 28 April 2014 . 9 January 2016.
2. Web site: Minister Welcomes Return Of LÉ Eithne, Arrival Of LÉ James Joyce To Cork . 17 July 2015 . Afloat.ie .
3. News: Decision to name Navy patrol ships after writers defended. Irish Times . Siggins . Lorna . 5 May 2014.
4. News: Naval Service ship names row may reopen . 9 June 2014 . Siggins . Lorna . Irish Times.
5. News: Navy to use drones to improve surveillance. . O'Riordan . Sean. 30 September 2014.
6. News: LÉ James Joyce sets sail from Appledore . North Devon Gazette . 16 June 2015 . Howells, Sarah .
7. Web site: Second Irish OPV afloat at Babcock's Appledore shipyard. janes.com. 10 December 2014.
8. Web site: Houses of the Oireachtas - Naval Service Vessels . Oireachtas (Hansard).
9. Web site: Babcock floats Irish Navy's new LÉ James Joyce OPV. naval-technology.com. 26 November 2014 . 6 December 2014.
10. News: New naval ship to be called LÉ William Butler Yeats . Irish Examiner . LÉ James Joyce, which arrived in the Naval Base at Haulbowline in Co Cork last Friday . 22 July 2015.
11. News: Navy crew 'abandon ship' over problems on LÉ James Joyce . Irish Examiner . O'Riordan . Sean . 7 July 2015.
12. Web site: Irish Navy boards super trawler off Donegal . CoastMonkey.ie . 29 November 2016 . Robinson, Ann.
13. Web site: Irish navy inspect world's second largest trawler off the coast of Donegal . Donegal Democrat . 3 December 2016 . Doherty, Sue.