LÉ George Bernard Shaw

LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64) is a Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) of the Irish Naval Service. It is the fourth ship in a series of vessels designed by Vard Marine and built by Babcock Marine Appledore, and is named for the writer George Bernard Shaw.

LÉ George Bernard Shaw off Ilfracombe in 2018
History
Ireland
Name	LÉ George Bernard Shaw
Namesake	George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright
Builder	Babcock Marine Appledore, North Devon
Cost	€67 million[1]
Laid down	28 February 2017
Launched	2 March 2018
Commissioned	30 April 2019[2]
Identification	IMO number: 9814519 MMSI number: 250004884 Callsign: EIYW Hull number: P64
Status	In active service[3][2]
General characteristics
Class & type	Samuel Beckett-class offshore patrol vessel
Displacement	2,256 tonnes
Length	90.00 m (295.28 ft)[4]
Beam	14.00 m (45.93 ft)
Speed	23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)[5]
Range	6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi)[6]
Armament	1 × OTO Melara 76 mm cannon 2 × Rheinmetall Rh202 20 mm cannon 4 × 7.62 mm GPMG or .50 calibre HMGs[6]

Constructed in Devon, England, the vessel underwent keel laying in February 2017.^[7][8] The vessel was first floated-out of the dry dock during March 2018,^[9] and was delivered to Haulbowline Naval Base on 11 October 2018, pending final fitting out, including installation of the main 76 mm cannon.^[1][10]

In December 2018, the vessel was made available for tours by the public in Galway,^[3] and it was formally commissioned in April 2019.^[2]

Operational Service

At around 1.10 am on 25 March 2020 a burglary occurred while the vessel was docked at Sir John Rogerson's Quay.^[11] A man in his 30s was arrested and charged in relation to the incident, appearing before the courts the afternoon of 25 March.^[11]

Gallery

• 
  LÉ George Bernard Shaw moving through Galway Bay, Ireland
• 
  Anchored off Ilfracombe, North Devon, UK October 2018