Irish Navy awards OPV support contract to Babcock
The Irish Navy's Samuel Beckett-class OPV at sea. (Photo: Babcock International)
Babcock to support the Irish Navy’s Samuel Beckett Class, with work to commence later this year in Co. Cork, Ireland.
Babcock International has been awarded a contract to install a variable speed drive system for the central cooling system onboard the Irish Navy’s P60 Samuel Beckett Class.
The variable speed drive system was first installed on the central cooling system of the fourth offshore patrol vessel, LÉ George Benard Shaw (P64).
The system enabled the vessel to use a variety of power outputs depending on the conditions and requirements and has proven to be successful.
The Irish Naval Service has since requested it to be installed across the class to save power, fuel and cost while providing a more environmentally friendly running option.
Captain Roberts, Officer Commanding Naval Support Command commented on its environmental impact saying: ‘the variable speed drive upgrades on the P60 Samuel Beckett Class demonstrates our climate change objectives, following the Government’s Climate Action Plan’.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, four ships have been commissioned into the class with a total value of the contract for the four vessels of €270m ($302m).
Given the contract value in 2010 was $302 million, the unit cost has been estimated at $75.5 million each.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Anduril Australia wins A$1.7 billion Ghost Shark XL-AUV contract]()
Anduril Australia wins A$1.7 billion Ghost Shark XL-AUV contract
The vessels are expected to deliver a major boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities, with production set to start immediately.
-
![Royal Canadian Navy will start operating class 2 UAVs in 2028]()
Royal Canadian Navy will start operating class 2 UAVs in 2028
Acquired under Canada’s Department of National Defence ISTAR UAS project, the drones will be deployed from the Halifax-class frigates.
-
![Newest US Coast Guard cutters go after Chinese vessels sailing in the Arctic]()
Newest US Coast Guard cutters go after Chinese vessels sailing in the Arctic
Cutters Earl Cunningham and Storis have been monitoring five Beijing research vessels navigating in the North Pole.
-
![US Navy selects 25 companies for up to $1.9 billion nuclear submarine contract]()
US Navy selects 25 companies for up to $1.9 billion nuclear submarine contract
The multi-award contract will support the scheduled repair and maintenance of nuclear-powered attack submarines at the US Navy’s primary public shipyards.
