Ireland could provide a marine-based response to international humanitarian crises when the Naval Service's fleet is renewed, according to a senior officer. Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent, reports.
Ireland's new claim on Continental Shelf limits, and violent weather forecast as a result of climate change, will also require larger, multipurpose ships, Cdr Mark Mellett of the LE Eithne said.
Defence Forces planners are working to replace up to six of the fleet's eight ships. Three vessels, the Emer, Aoife and Aisling, will reach their "critical life span" in 2010, while a further three will reach this stage before 2015.
The planned fleet renewal comes as Ireland is making a partial submission to the UN on an uncontested area of the Continental Shelf, extending beyond the 200-mile limit and including potential resource reserves.
If upheld, the extension would increase the Naval Service's area of responsibility.
Writing in the current issue of An Cosantóir, the Defence Forces journal, Cdr Mellett cites the example of New Zealand and Denmark, both of which have ships capable of "blue/green" or sea- and shore-based operations.
Such vessels are designed primarily for "blue environment", but can "swing" to deliver services to the "green environment".
The design allows for a flexible deck area, capable of carrying a variety of loads for use in humanitarian crises. There is an on-board medical facility and accommodation for evacuations or troop deployment, Cdr Mellet says.
Cdr Mellett, writing in a personal capacity, notes a recent climatology study shows the most extreme wave conditions are in storm-track regions west of Ireland; this will require ships that can withstand such environment.
He also notes that the recent Ireland Aid Review committee's report highlighted the need for the State to develop the capability to react more quickly to international crises.
Three recent major crises were natural disasters: the Asian tsunami, hurricane Katrina in the US and the earthquake in Pakistan.
More than half of the world's population lives within 30 nautical miles of the sea. It is thought this could rise to 70 per cent by 2020, Cdr Mellett says, making the case for greater Naval Service capability. Two-thirds of the world's cities with populations of over 2.5 million are located on the coastline or on estuaries.