Emer-class offshore patrol vessel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 LÉ Aisling departing Dublin in 2009 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Verolme Dockyard, Cork |
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | LÉ Deirdre |
| Succeeded by | Róisín class |
| Built | 1977–1980 |
| In service | 1978–present |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Offshore patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 1,019 t (1,003 long tons) |
| Length | 65.20 m (213 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in) |
| Draught | 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) |
| Speed | 31.5 knots (58.3 km/h; 36.2 mph) (maximum) |
| Complement | 46 (5 officers and 41 ratings) |
| Armament |
|
The Emer-class offshore patrol vessel was a class of three offshore patrol vessels (OPV) operated by the Irish Naval Service from January 1978 until June 2016. After decommissioning from the Irish Naval Service, the ships were acquired and put into service by a number of foreign navies.[1][2][3]
After evaluating Deirdre for three years, the Irish Naval Service ordered the lead ship of an evolved design in 1975. The keel laying for Emer took place on 28 February 1977. The launch followed later that year on 26 September 1977. The keel for the second ship, Aoife, was laid on 3 July 1978 and she was launched 12 April 1979. The final ship, Aisling, had her keel laid on 31 January 1979 and was launched 3 October 1979.
