14 Maret 2023
Two coastal patrol vessels LÉ Orla (P41) and LÉ Ciara (42) (photos : Irish Naval Service)
The Irish Department of Defence is seeking tender to recycle decommissioned naval surface ships.
Three were decommissioned at the same time last Summer - LÉ Eithne (P31) and two coastal patrol vessels LÉ Orla (P41) and LÉ Ciara (42).
The Philippine Navy previously plan to purchase two sister ships from three Jacinto class patrol boats so by the Irish Ministry of Defence. This a practical move for the Philippine Navy as it plans to continue using the ships for more than 10 more years, depending on the availability of funding to replace them beyond 2030.
Looks like proposals on purchasing 2 sister ships of the Philippine Navy's 3 Jacinto-class patrol vessels from Ireland cannot move forward anymore.
This is after the Irish Defense Ministry decided to scrap and recycle the ships, the former LE Orla and LE Ciara, instead of selling them to other countries or private groups.
The decision came after a previous ship sold at an auction ended up with a Libyan warlord.
The Irish Government failed to realize that the Philippine Navy is a legitimate military service and proposes to procure the ships directly and not through public bidding.
The Jacinto-class patrol vessels were previously known as the Peacock-class patrol vessels of the British Royal Navy.
2 ships were sold to Ireland in 1988, while the other 3 were sold at a token price to the Philippine Navy in 1997.
(UpdatePH)