Ireland commissions second offshore patrol vessel

DUBLIN, Ireland, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- The Irish Naval Service's second of three new offshore patrol vessels from Babcock Marine Appledore has been commissioned into service.

The LE James Joyce, commissioned at a ceremony attended by Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny, is about 295 feet long, has a baseline speed of 23 knots and a maximum range of 6,000 nautical miles.

Armaments include cannons and machine guns.

"The naming and commissioning of the ship carries with it a great sense of pride and anticipation for all Naval Service personnel," said Minister for Defense Simon Coveney. "LÉ James Joyce will be a tremendous asset to the Naval Service."

The Irish ordered two of the new vessels in 2010 and a third in 2014 under a shipbuilding program worth more than $224.5 million. The cost for arming the vessels is more than $14.7 million.