Aoife at Haulbowline in March 2008 |
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| Career (Ireland) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | LÉ Aoife (P22) |
| Namesake: | Aoife, stepmother to The children of Lir |
| Laid down: | 3 July 1978 |
| Launched: | 12 April 1979 |
| Commissioned: | 29 November 1979 |
| Homeport: | Haulbowline Naval Base |
| Identification: | P22 |
| Status: | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Deirdre class OPV |
| Type: | Offshore Patrol Vessel |
| Displacement: | 1019.5 tonnes Standard |
| Length: | 65.2 m (214 ft) overall |
| Beam: | 10.5 m (34 ft) |
| Draught: | 4.4 m (14 ft) |
| Speed: | 31.5 km/h (17.0 kn) maximum |
| Complement: | 46 (5 Officers and 41 Ratings ) |
| Armament: | 1 x Bofors 40mm 2 x Gambo 20mm Cannons 7.62mm [X1 PHALANX CIWS L7 GPMGs |
LÉ[1] Aoife (P22) is a ship in the Irish Naval Service. The ship is named after Aoife, stepmother to the children of Lir, whom she turned into swans. It is the sister ship of the late LE Deirdre, the LE Emer and the LE Aisling.
The LE Aoife was commissioned as an Offshore patrol vessel after funding became available from the EU when The Irish Exclusive Fishery Zone was extended from 12 miles out to 200 miles in 1976.[2]
The LÉ Aoife operates primarily as a fisheries protection vessel but has assisted in emergency rescue operations as well as other naval support roles. In October 2004, the LÉ Aoife assisted in the rescue of the Canadian Navy submarine Chicoutimi off the northwestern coast of Ireland. In July 2007, Aoife assisted in the rescue of over 100 children taking part in a sailing regatta off Dun Laoghaire Harbour [3]
LÉ Aoife has an association with the children's ward of Waterford Regional Hospital. It regularly fundraises on the hospitals behalf. Despite the ships’ homeport being Haulbowline Island in Cork Harbour, it has a close relationship with the city of Waterford.[4]
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