Update: Former New Zealand inshore patrol vessels arrive in Ireland

The two second-hand Lake-class IPVs purchased from the New Zealand government for the Irish Naval Service have arrived in the country. (Irish DoD)

Two second-hand Lake-class inshore patrol vessels (IPVs) purchased from New Zealand to equip the Irish Naval Service (INS) have arrived in Ireland.

The two ships, the former HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukaki, arrived in Ringaskiddy, Cork, onboard the Dutch-registered heavy lift ship Happy Dynamic on 14 May, completing a month-long transit from Auckland, New Zealand. The IPVs were then unloaded and towed to Haulbowline Naval Base for delivery to the INS on 16 May.

The IPVs will now undergo a programme of work to fit additional equipment and a period of crew training. According to the Irish Department of Defence (DoD), the two ships are scheduled to enter service in early 2024 and will initially operate from Haulbowline Naval Base.

Ex-HMNZS Rotoiti and ex-HMNZS Pukaki were purchased by the Irish DoD in March 2022 in a government-to-government agreement worth EUR26 million (USD28.2 million). Prior to being delivered to Ireland, the two ships completed a programme of work to restore them to Lloyds Classification in New Zealand.

Built by BAE Australia (then Tenix Defence Systems) in Whangarei, New Zealand, from 2006 as part of a four-ship order and entering service with the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNLN) in 2009, Rotoiti and Pukaki completed almost 10 years of operations before being decommissioned in late 2019.

The vessels were purchased by the DoD to replace the INS's two Peacock (P 41)-class coastal patrol ships, LÉ Orla (P 41) and LÉ Ciara