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Displaying items by tag: LE Aisling

A former patrol vessel of the Irish Naval Service, LÉ Aisling, was sold to one of the participants in the civil war in Libya last year in breach of a UN arms embargo, the UN Security Council has been told.

According to The Irish Times, the embargo was breached by a company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), about a year after the decommissioned vessel (see towage story) was sold by the State to a Dutch shipping broker according to a UN report.

The State sold the offshore patrol vessel for €110,000 to the Dutch company (which Afloat adds led to criticism of the price fetched). The Dutch company sold it a year later, for $525,000 (€473,000), to the company in the UAE, which almost immediately sold it to a company in Libya for $1.5 million (€1.3 million). 

The details of what happened to the former Irish naval vessel are set out in a report just filed by the Expert Panel on Libya to the UN Security Council.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Defence said it had no “trailing obligations” in relation to the vessel, and that the resale of the ship was a matter for its purchaser.

Click here for more on this story on the final INS 'Emer' class patrol vessel which was commissioned into service in 1980. 

Published in Navy

#Navy - A former Naval Service OPV is now the flagship of Libya’s military.

According to the Irish Sun, top Libyan military officer General Khalifa Haftar is now in possession of the former LÉ Aisling, which was put up for sale by its Dutch buyer last year and given a new monicker in ‘Avenhorn’, with plans for renovation into a superyacht.

Renamed again as Al-Karama, the Cork-built vessel is now the flagship of the Libyan National Army — meaning it could conceivably face its former sister ships on humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean.

Built in 1979 and sailing with the Naval Service for 36 years, the once LÉ Aisling was sold at auction over a year ago for just €110,000, and was the subject of more controversy when it returned to market within months for six times the price.

The Irish Sun has more on the story HERE.

Published in Navy
Tagged under

LE Aisling is for Sale by public auction (if not previously sold) at 12.00 noon on Thursday, 23rd March 2017 at the Carrigaline Court Hotel, Cork. The vessel is offered For Sale AS SEEN AS IS at Cork Harbour.

FOR SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION

(NB – if not previously sold)

BY DIRECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

LE AISLING

(Offshore Patrol Vessel)

BY DIRECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

Built: Verolme, Cork, 1980
LOA: 65.2 ms Beam: 10.5 ms Draft: 4.4 ms Speed: 17 knots
Displacement: 1,025 Deadweight: 370.92
Engines: 2 Pielstick 6 cylinder Diesel engines - driving a single propeller.
224KW Bowthruster. Accommodation for 44 persons.

Auction: 12.00 noon on Thursday, 23rd March 2017
At the Carrigaline Court Hotel, Cork.
The vessel is offered For Sale AS SEEN AS IS at Cork Harbour.

Further Details, Photographs & Conditions Of Sale from:
DOMINIC J. DALY, FRICS, AUCTIONEER
PEMBROKE HOUSE, PEMBROKE STREET, CORK, IRELAND.
Tel: (353) 21 4277399 or mobile: (353) 87 2550486
Email: [email protected]

Published in Boat Sales
Tagged under

#FISHERY DETENTION - Naval Service OPV L.É. Aisling (P23) detained an Irish registered fishing vessel approximately 100 nautical miles west of the Blasket Islands, Co Kerry, yesterday afternoon.

The detention was in relation to alleged breaches of fishing regulations and recording of catch. According to the Naval Service, the detained vessel was under escort by the L.É. Aisling to Castletownbere and was expected to arrive this morning and then handed over to the Gardaí.

Earlier this month the Naval Service detained a French registered vessel, 170 nautical miles west of Castletownbere. The navy has detained 17 vessels in total so far in 2012.

Published in Navy

#FISHERY DETENTION – The Naval Service coastal patrol vessel (CPV) L.É. Ciara detained an Irish registered fishing vessel some 30 nautical miles south of Ballycotton Co. Cork. The detention which took place around midnight on Wednesday was for an alleged breach of technical fishing regulations.

The trawler was escorted by the L.É. Ciara (P42) to Cobh where it arrived on the Thursday and was handed over to the Gardaí.

In late July the L.É. Aisling (P23) detained an Irish registered vessel in waters approximately 125 nautical miles off Loop Head, Co. Clare. To date the Naval Service have carried out 946 boardings, issued 38 warnings and detained 12 vessels so far in 2012.

Published in Navy

#FISHERY DETENTIONS – Yesterday the Naval Service OPV L.E. Aisling (P23) detained an Irish registered vessel approximately 125 nautical miles off the coast of Loop Head, Co. Clare. The detention was in relation to an alleged breach of technical fishing regulations.

The vessel was to be escorted by the OPV to arrive in Castletownbere this morning and then and handed over to the Gardaí.

Also earlier this month, the LPV L.E. Niamh (P52) detained another vessel on the same grounds. On that occasion the detained French registered vessel was likewise fishing in waters off Loop Head and taken under escort to the Co. Cork fishing harbour.

According to Naval Service figures, they have carried out 910 boardings, issued 38 warnings and detained 11 vessels so far this year.

Published in Navy
18th May 2012

Spanish Trawler Detained

#TRAWLER DETENTION - The Naval Service OPV LE Aisling (P23) detained a Spanish registered fishing vessel approximately 175 nautical miles off Mizen Head, Co. Kerry on Wednesday night.

The detention was in relation to an alleged breach of technical fishing regulations and the vessel was escorted by the patrol vessel to Castletownbere and handed over to the Gardai.

So far this year the Naval Service have carried out 498 boardings, issued 25 warnings and detained eight vessels. The total in 2011 was 1,313 boardings and eight detentions of vessels took place off the Irish coast.

Published in Navy

#COBH TITANIC 100  - Following President Michael D. Higgins visit to Cobh to commemorate the centenary call of RMS Titanic to Queenstown, the town yesterday hosted a Naval Service review that included the Royal Navy's HMS Mersey.

The President as supreme commander of the Defence Forces boarded the Naval Service 'flagship' L.E. Eithne which passed the guest-ship, a River class patrol vessel which headed a line of vessels which lay at anchor of Cobh's waterfront, they were the L.E. Aoife, L.E. Aisling and L.E. Niamh

The historic event which marked the pinnacle of the Titanic 100 Cobh centenary week will continue as part of a year-round programme of events. For information visit www.titanic100.ie. On the homepage the L.E. Niamh features again, where on this occasion marine photographer Jehan Ashmore captured the vessel underway as she powered her way at high-speed through a misty Dalkey Sound.

Among the many places throughout Cobh where thousands of tourists have flocked since the Balmoral docked on Monday to retrace the liner's maiden voyage, has been the White Star Line pier.

From this pier were the last passengers to depart Queenstown on board the tenders PS Ireland and PS America to the ill-fated Titanic that struck an ice-berg. On her Irish call 123 passengers were transferred to the Titanic which lay outside Cork Harbour, while 7 passengers disembarked from the liner and headed ashore.

What remains of the pier which is not accessible to the public and is in danger of collapsing, there has been calls to raise funds to save the structure, as previously reported.

Also in attendance during yesterday's historic proceedings, was the excursion passenger tender Spirit if the Isles which is operating on her second season since starting Cork Harbour cruises last year. They run between Cork city quays and downriver along the Lee to Cobh.

In the 1980's the tender then named Ingot ran excursions from Dun Laoghaire Harbour into Dublin Bay and likewise of L.E. Niamh, she too transited Dalkey Sound as part of her sightseeing tours.

Published in Titanic

#NAVAL SERVICE – The LÉ Aisling (P23) detained a British registered fishing vessel approximately 180 nautical miles west of the Skelligs last night. The detention was in relation to an alleged breach of fishing regulations.

According to the Naval Service the vessel was expected to arrive under escort to Castletownbere this morning and handed over to the Gardaí.

This was the first detention of 2012 and so far there have also been 51 boardings  this year. In 2011 the Naval Service carried out 1,313 boardings and 8 detentions of vessels.

Published in Navy

#NAVAL SERVICE- The Naval Service patrol ship LE Ciara (P42) has been cleared to return to sea, following repairs to a hole in its hull, the Irish Times reports.

The high-speed coastal patrol vessel (CPV) is the latest in a series of vessels in the fleet which have required substantial repair due to a combination of age and rough Atlantic conditions.

The oldest ships of the eight-strong fleet, the sisters LE Emer , Aoife and Aisling , have all suffered plate erosion due mainly to age. The service is due to received two new ships at €50 million each, which will be commissioned in 2014 and 2015, under a deal with British shipbuilder Babcock Marine.

Published in Navy
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Irish Olympic Sailing Team

Ireland has a proud representation in sailing at the Olympics dating back to 1948. Today there is a modern governing structure surrounding the selection of sailors the Olympic Regatta

Irish Olympic Sailing FAQs

Ireland’s representation in sailing at the Olympics dates back to 1948, when a team consisting of Jimmy Mooney (Firefly), Alf Delany and Hugh Allen (Swallow) competed in that year’s Summer Games in London (sailing off Torquay). Except for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Ireland has sent at least one sailor to every Summer Games since then.

  • 1948 – London (Torquay) — Firefly: Jimmy Mooney; Swallow: Alf Delany, Hugh Allen
  • 1952 – Helsinki — Finn: Alf Delany * 1956 – Melbourne — Finn: J Somers Payne
  • 1960 – Rome — Flying Dutchman: Johnny Hooper, Peter Gray; Dragon: Jimmy Mooney, David Ryder, Robin Benson; Finn: J Somers Payne
  • 1964 – Tokyo — Dragon: Eddie Kelliher, Harry Maguire, Rob Dalton; Finn: Johnny Hooper 
  • 1972 – Munich (Kiel) — Tempest: David Wilkins, Sean Whitaker; Dragon: Robin Hennessy, Harry Byrne, Owen Delany; Finn: Kevin McLaverty; Flying Dutchman: Harold Cudmore, Richard O’Shea
  • 1976 – Montreal (Kingston) — 470: Robert Dix, Peter Dix; Flying Dutchman: Barry O’Neill, Jamie Wilkinson; Tempest: David Wilkins, Derek Jago
  • 1980 – Moscow (Tallinn) — Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Jamie Wilkinson (Silver medalists) * 1984 – Los Angeles — Finn: Bill O’Hara
  • 1988 – Seoul (Pusan) — Finn: Bill O’Hara; Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy; 470 (Women): Cathy MacAleavy, Aisling Byrne
  • 1992 – Barcelona — Europe: Denise Lyttle; Flying Dutchman: David Wilkins, Peter Kennedy; Star: Mark Mansfield, Tom McWilliam
  • 1996 – Atlanta (Savannah) — Laser: Mark Lyttle; Europe: Aisling Bowman (Byrne); Finn: John Driscoll; Star: Mark Mansfield, David Burrows; 470 (Women): Denise Lyttle, Louise Cole; Soling: Marshall King, Dan O’Grady, Garrett Connolly
  • 2000 – Sydney — Europe: Maria Coleman; Finn: David Burrows; Star: Mark Mansfield, David O'Brien
  • 2004 – Athens — Europe: Maria Coleman; Finn: David Burrows; Star: Mark Mansfield, Killian Collins; 49er: Tom Fitzpatrick, Fraser Brown; 470: Gerald Owens, Ross Killian; Laser: Rory Fitzpatrick
  • 2008 – Beijing (Qingdao) — Star: Peter O’Leary, Stephen Milne; Finn: Tim Goodbody; Laser Radial: Ciara Peelo; 470: Gerald Owens, Phil Lawton
  • 2012 – London (Weymouth) — Star: Peter O’Leary, David Burrows; 49er: Ryan Seaton, Matt McGovern; Laser Radial: Annalise Murphy; Laser: James Espey; 470: Gerald Owens, Scott Flanigan
  • 2016 – Rio — Laser Radial (Women): Annalise Murphy (Silver medalist); 49er: Ryan Seaton, Matt McGovern; 49erFX: Andrea Brewster, Saskia Tidey; Laser: Finn Lynch; Paralympic Sonar: John Twomey, Ian Costello & Austin O’Carroll

Ireland has won two Olympics medals in sailing events, both silver: David Wilkins, Jamie Wilkinson in the Flying Dutchman at Moscow 1980, and Annalise Murphy in the Laser Radial at Rio 2016.

The current team, as of December 2020, consists of Laser sailors Finn Lynch, Liam Glynn and Ewan McMahon, 49er pairs Ryan Seaton and Seafra Guilfoyle, and Sean Waddilove and Robert Dickson, as well as Laser Radial sailors Annalise Murphy and Aoife Hopkins.

Irish Sailing is the National Governing Body for sailing in Ireland.

Irish Sailing’s Performance division is responsible for selecting and nurturing Olympic contenders as part of its Performance Pathway.

The Performance Pathway is Irish Sailing’s Olympic talent pipeline. The Performance Pathway counts over 70 sailors from 11 years up in its programme.The Performance Pathway is made up of Junior, Youth, Academy, Development and Olympic squads. It provides young, talented and ambitious Irish sailors with opportunities to move up through the ranks from an early age. With up to 100 young athletes training with the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway, every aspect of their performance is planned and closely monitored while strong relationships are simultaneously built with the sailors and their families

Rory Fitzpatrick is the head coach of Irish Sailing Performance. He is a graduate of University College Dublin and was an Athens 2004 Olympian in the Laser class.

The Performance Director of Irish Sailing is James O’Callaghan. Since 2006 James has been responsible for the development and delivery of athlete-focused, coach-led, performance-measured programmes across the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway. A Business & Economics graduate of Trinity College Dublin, he is a Level 3 Qualified Coach and Level 2 Coach Tutor. He has coached at five Olympic Games and numerous European and World Championship events across multiple Olympic classes. He is also a member of the Irish Sailing Foundation board.

Annalise Murphy is by far and away the biggest Irish sailing star. Her fourth in London 2012 when she came so agonisingly close to a bronze medal followed by her superb silver medal performance four years later at Rio won the hearts of Ireland. Murphy is aiming to go one better in Tokyo 2021. 

Under head coach Rory Fitzpatrick, the coaching staff consists of Laser Radial Academy coach Sean Evans, Olympic Laser coach Vasilij Zbogar and 49er team coach Matt McGovern.

The Irish Government provides funding to Irish Sailing. These funds are exclusively for the benefit of the Performance Pathway. However, this falls short of the amount required to fund the Performance Pathway in order to allow Ireland compete at the highest level. As a result the Performance Pathway programme currently receives around €850,000 per annum from Sport Ireland and €150,000 from sponsorship. A further €2 million per annum is needed to have a major impact at the highest level. The Irish Sailing Foundation was established to bridge the financial gap through securing philanthropic donations, corporate giving and sponsorship.

The vision of the Irish Sailing Foundation is to generate the required financial resources for Ireland to scale-up and execute its world-class sailing programme. Irish Sailing works tirelessly to promote sailing in Ireland and abroad and has been successful in securing funding of 1 million euro from Sport Ireland. However, to compete on a par with other nations, a further €2 million is required annually to realise the ambitions of our talented sailors. For this reason, the Irish Sailing Foundation was formed to seek philanthropic donations. Led by a Board of Directors and Head of Development Kathryn Grace, the foundation lads a campaign to bridge the financial gap to provide the Performance Pathway with the funds necessary to increase coaching hours, upgrade equipment and provide world class sport science support to a greater number of high-potential Irish sailors.

The Senior and Academy teams of the Performance Pathway are supported with the provision of a coach, vehicle, coach boat and boats. Even with this level of subsidy there is still a large financial burden on individual families due to travel costs, entry fees and accommodation. There are often compromises made on the amount of days a coach can be hired for and on many occasions it is necessary to opt out of major competitions outside Europe due to cost. Money raised by the Irish Sailing Foundation will go towards increased quality coaching time, world-class equipment, and subsiding entry fees and travel-related costs. It also goes towards broadening the base of talented sailors that can consider campaigning by removing financial hurdles, and the Performance HQ in Dublin to increase efficiency and reduce logistical issues.

The ethos of the Performance Pathway is progression. At each stage international performance benchmarks are utilised to ensure the sailors are meeting expectations set. The size of a sailor will generally dictate which boat they sail. The classes selected on the pathway have been identified as the best feeder classes for progression. Currently the Irish Sailing Performance Pathway consists of the following groups: * Pathway (U15) Optimist and Topper * Youth Academy (U19) Laser 4.7, Laser Radial and 420 * Development Academy (U23) Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX * Team IRL (direct-funded athletes) Laser, Laser Radial, 49er, 49erFX

The Irish Sailing performance director produces a detailed annual budget for the programme which is presented to Sport Ireland, Irish Sailing and the Foundation for detailed discussion and analysis of the programme, where each item of expenditure is reviewed and approved. Each year, the performance director drafts a Performance Plan and Budget designed to meet the objectives of Irish Performance Sailing based on an annual review of the Pathway Programmes from Junior to Olympic level. The plan is then presented to the Olympic Steering Group (OSG) where it is independently assessed and the budget is agreed. The OSG closely monitors the delivery of the plan ensuring it meets the agreed strategy, is within budget and in line with operational plans. The performance director communicates on an ongoing basis with the OSG throughout the year, reporting formally on a quarterly basis.

Due to the specialised nature of Performance Sport, Irish Sailing established an expert sub-committee which is referred to as the Olympic Steering Group (OSG). The OSG is chaired by Patrick Coveney and its objective is centred around winning Olympic medals so it oversees the delivery of the Irish Sailing’s Performance plan.

At Junior level (U15) sailors learn not only to be a sailor but also an athlete. They develop the discipline required to keep a training log while undertaking fitness programmes, attending coaching sessions and travelling to competitions. During the winter Regional Squads take place and then in spring the National Squads are selected for Summer Competitions. As sailors move into Youth level (U19) there is an exhaustive selection matrix used when considering a sailor for entry into the Performance Academy. Completion of club training programmes, attendance at the performance seminars, physical suitability and also progress at Junior and Youth competitions are assessed and reviewed. Once invited in to the Performance Academy, sailors are given a six-month trial before a final decision is made on their selection. Sailors in the Academy are very closely monitored and engage in a very well planned out sailing, training and competition programme. There are also defined international benchmarks which these sailors are required to meet by a certain age. Biannual reviews are conducted transparently with the sailors so they know exactly where they are performing well and they are made aware of where they may need to improve before the next review.

©Afloat 2020