LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64)

LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64) is a Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) of the Irish Naval Service. It is the fourth ship in a series of vessels designed by Vard Marine and built by Babcock Marine Appledore, and is named for writer George Bernard Shaw.

LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64) off Ilfracombe in July 2018
History
Ireland
Name:	LÉ George Bernard Shaw
Namesake:	George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright
Builder:	Babcock Marine Appledore, North Devon
Cost:	€67 million[1]
Laid down:	28 February 2017
Launched:	2 March 2018
Commissioned:	30 April 2019[2]
Identification:	IMO number: 9814519 MMSI number: 250004884 Callsign: EIYW Hull number: P64
Status:	In active service[3][2]
General characteristics
Class and type:	Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel
Displacement:	2,256 tonnes
Length:	90.00 m (295.28 ft)[4]
Beam:	14.00 m (45.93 ft)
Speed:	23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)[5]
Range:	6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi)[6]
Armament:	1 × OTO Melara 76 mm cannon 2 × Rheinmetall Rh202 20 mm cannon 4 × 7.62 mm GPMG or .50 calibre HMGs[6]

Constructed in Devon, England, the vessel underwent keel laying in February 2017.[7][8] The vessel was first floated-out of the dry dock during March 2018,[9] and was delivered to Haulbowline Naval Base on 11 October 2018, pending final fitting out, including installation of the main 76 mm cannon.[1][10]

In December 2018, the vessel was made available for tours by the public in Galway,[3] and it was formally commissioned in April 2019.[2]

Operational Service

At around 1.10am on 25 March 2020 a burglary occurred while the vessel was docked at Sir John Rogerson's Quay.[11] A man in his 30s was arrested and charged in relation to the incident, appearing before the courts the afternoon of 25 March.[11]

Gallery

• 
  LÉ George Bernard Shaw moving through Galway Bay, Ireland
• 
  Anchored off Ilfracombe, North Devon, UK October 2018

References

1. Ashmore, Jehan. "Naval Service Latest Newbuild LÉ George Bernard Shaw Makes Delivery Voyage to Cork Harbour". Retrieved 21 October 2018.
2. "Ireland's fourth offshore patrol vessel, the LÉ George Bernard Shaw, has been officially commissioned". thejournal.ie. The Journal. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
3. "Newest Ship in the Irish Navy Open to Tours in Galway Docks". afloat.ie. Afloat Magazine. 29 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018. LÉ George Bernard Shaw was brought into Naval Service this year [2018] and will have a formal naming ceremony in 2019
4. "Irish Naval Service floats third OPV". Shephard Media. 16 March 2016.
5. "Babcock floats out fourth Irish OPV LÉ George Bernard Shaw". Naval-technology.com. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
6. "Irish Navy's third Samuel Beckett-class OPV LÉ William Butler Yeats floated out". Naval-Technology.com. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
7. Hall, Thomas. "Fourth Irish Naval Service Vessel To Be Named 'George Bernard Shaw'".
8. "New Irish Naval Service Ship to be named LÉ George Bernard Shaw". 1 March 2017.
9. "Latest Irish Naval Service OPV LÉ George Bernard Shaw Is Floated-Out". Afloat Magazine. 9 March 2018.
10. "Minister Kehoe welcomes arrival of 4th Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the Naval Service | Department of Defence". www.defence.ie. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
11. McCrave, Conor (26 March 2020). "Man arrested following theft aboard naval vessel docked at Sir John Rogerson's Quay in Dublin". thejournal.ie. Retrieved 26 March 2020.