LÉ William Butler Yeats
Ship built in 2016
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
LÉ William Butler Yeats (P63) is a Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel of the Irish Naval Service. Named after poet W. B. Yeats, the ship is the third in a series of vessels designed by Vard Marine and built by Babcock Marine Appledore.[1][5][6] The ship was floated out of the shipyard in March 2016,[7] started trials in July 2016,[4] and arrived at Haulbowline naval base in late July 2016.[8] The ship was formally commissioned in a ceremony in Galway on 17 October 2016. During the ceremony, it was officially named by a granddaughter of the poet, Caitriona Yeats.[2]
LÉ William Butler Yeats at Haulbowline, July 2016 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Ireland | |
| Name | LÉ William Butler Yeats |
| Namesake | W. B. Yeats, Irish poet |
| Builder | Babcock Marine Appledore, North Devon |
| Cost | €71 million[1] |
| Launched | 10 March 2016 |
| Sponsored by | Caitriona Yeats |
| Christened | 17 October 2016[2] |
| Commissioned | 17 October 2016[2] |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In active service[2] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 2,256 tonnes |
| Length | 90.00 m (295.28 ft)[3] |
| Beam | 14.00 m (45.93 ft) |
| Range | 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi)[4] |
| Armament |
|
Operational history
In March 2020 the Naval Service provided the vessel to the HSE as a testing centre to be docked at Galway as part of Irish response to the coronavirus pandemic.[9]
In September 2023, LÉ William Butler Yeats was involved in the interception of MV Matthew, a bulk carrier, that was found to be carrying 2,253 kg (4,967 lb) of cocaine, worth €173 million.[10]
In December 2025, crew from the vessel who were "monitoring maritime activity" observed unidentified drones near the flight path of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's jet during a state visit to Ireland.[11]
