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THE DUTCH AMBASSADOR in Dublin has said that shipbuilders in Netherlands are likely to compete for the construction of the proposed Irish Navy multi-role vessel (MRV) when it goes to tender.
Ireland has engaged a shipyard in the UK to build ships in the past but, sources have said, in the wake of Brexit that contracts are likely to go to European partner countries.
While the tendering process has not begun to build the ship Adriaan Palm said there is “competition” to take on the contract.
Palm confirmed to The Journal that he met with Irish officials from the Irish Navy, the Irish Air Corps and the Department of Defence (DOD) who visited a Dutch navy ship in Cobh last week.
Planning is underway in the DOD to purchase the MRV and it was a key recommendation in the Commission on the Defence Forces – the cost of the project could be in the region of €200 million.
Palm said that the officials were given a tour of the vessel, HNLMS Karel Doorman, which is a multi-role vessel similar to that mooted for the Irish navy.
During the visit an Air Corps helicopter landed on the flight deck on the ship’s expansive flight deck as officials watched on.
The Karel Doorman and two other Dutch warships, the HNLMS Groningen and HNLMS Zeven Provincien were in Cork Harbour last weekend on a courtesy call to Cork city and Cobh.
“We also know that in the past, a lot of the Irish ships were built by British shipyards, we know that there’s competition there.
“I’m sure that Damen is following everything very closely, because any multi purpose vessel would be a substantial investment that would be interesting for businesses,” he said.
The Karel Doorman, which is capable of acting as a seabourne helicopter carrier, an amphibious assault craft and cargo vessel was docked in Cobh while the other vessels were docked at a nearby facility and on the quays in the city.
Palm said that the visit was for the ships’ crews to enjoy rest and recuperation following an intensive naval exercise in the Atlantic but said that Irish officials were given the opportunity to visit the giant ship in Cobh.
“There was a tour for people from the (Irish) Navy, and of course, the landing of a helicopter onboard the ship, which was the first landing of an Irish helicopter and there were people from DOD as well to witness that.
“We gave them a tour of the ship and they could feel both people from the Navy and from the Air Corps how we use a ship like that,” he said.
The Karel Doorman was built by Damen Shipyards based in Rotterdam. While there were no officials from the shipyard onboard the vessel the ambassador believes it would be a good opportunity for a business arrangement with Ireland.
“One of the things that they are considering is investment in the Navy, if it comes to that decision.
“I don’t know what the timeline is for that but that Ireland would say we would be able to open up a tender procedure that may very well be that Damen would be interested in that,” he added.
Very successful Dutch 🇳🇱 naval visit to Cork and Cobh, with the first 🇮🇪 helicopter landing on a Dutch ship. And a very good exchange of views of @COM_NLMARFOR with representatives from @IRLDeptDefence and @naval_service. Thank you for the hospitality @ZrMsKarelDman @ElzoJansen! pic.twitter.com/FNQynNkmK2
— Adriaan Palm (@AdriaanPalm) November 25, 2022
The Ambassador described that view as speculation on his part but said that as the Karel Doorman has proven the shipyard’s ability to build a multi-role vessel.
“It’s clear that they are capable of delivering a most impressive vessel. And there are not that many companies in Europe or elsewhere in the world who can do so,” he added.
A small protest was held in Cobh at the arrival of the Karel Doorman by approximately ten protestors.
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A bit of competition is good once it’s honest and there’s no jolleys, stroking, brown envelopes or trips to the red light district
Don’t care who builds it, once the ultimate cost is what was agreed at the start and it represents best value for money and can actually do everything that we need in an MRV.
@Peter: absolutely correct. The bigger ptoblen is managing to crew these ships given the pathetic funding of the navy and the army
. dont care who builds it but no the UK, when your out, your out.
@Spud Geshletter: let’s hope they don’t have the same stupid attitude as you, we will be broke overnight.
@Tipper Irie: How do you like a freezing cold and dark winter? 75% of our gas comes from Scotland!
@Tipper Irie: please explain??
@Spud Geshletter: …but they’re Scots not English.
This is gona be an interesting one. The Brits will probably bend over backwards for these kind of contracts now to prove Brexit works. Might mean a better price, but there will be a lot of pressure on the government from EU partners to not go with the Brits for this. Especially a defence contract. I’m sure there are plenty of other shipyards around Europe that could also build the ship. I wonder will the EU intervene to make sure that EU defense spending stays as much as possible within the EU. Which will be tough seen as the Brits have such a massive arms industry.
@bazhealy: We should source the ships with the EU Single Market and as Northern Ireland is still in the EU Single Market we should source the ships in Harland and Wolf in Belfast.
@Roger Bond: You’d be lucky to get a barge out of H&W.
@Roger Bond: hm no…
@Billybutcher: hm maybe, although it has been used recently mainly for service I read on 25/11 that H&W has been appointed as the prefered bidder to deliver three crucial support ships to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Who will staff it?? The Naval service is on it’s knees.
@Richard Griffin: We can recruit naval personnel from other countries like the Philippines or China.
@Roger Bond: Do people actually think we can do that?
And its also past time Ireland grew up and provided its own proper air defences and stop running to the RAF everytime an incident accurs because we dont have the capability,without a comprehensive radar tracking system anyone can invade our airspace at will and we have to depend on the Brits for information whats happening in our own country,the excuse usually given is because we are neutral sounds demeaning and ridiculous because we can even defend our own neutrality.
@Richard Mccarthy: I’m sure that there is a bit of back scratching going on with that arrangement.
Didn’t know the UK had any shipyards left.
@Ken Miles: they,’ve got s few ,who do you think built the new aircraft carriers?
@Ken Miles: You obvously are misinformed who do you think built the latest Ships for the Irish navy,yep the Brits did only problem now we can’t get the personel to crew them.
@Ken Miles: there is a famous ship yard only up the road in Belfast
@Kevin Carroll: Excellent point. At least we would keep the money on the island.
@Kevin Carroll: Yes there is. Tyneside shipyards closed to keep Belfast in work.
@Ken Miles: There is one just up the road in Belfast and it would be a kind gesture to get the ships built there like before.
As a member of the EU all contracts should be given to eu countries not a country outside eu
They’ve probably wat he’d the childrens hospital and locked their lips at the clown show.
Candy off a baby..
That’s easy then, Trieste in Italy it is, the only EU one of the top 10 largest shipbuilding companies, coming in @ #9.
We should be looking further afield for contracts like this..The best value for money can be found in China or South Korea..
@Roger Bond: Correctamundo, Asia all the way, I’d include Japan on that list.
have your say