INS signs optimised maintenance agreement with Wärtsilä
The Irish Naval Service’s OPV LÉ William B Yeats (P63) (Source: Babcock)
The Republic of Ireland’s Irish Naval Service (INS) has signed a five-year optimised maintenance agreement with Wärtsilä for its fleet of four 90m offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) – LÉ Samuel Beckett (P61), LÉ James Joyce (P62), LÉ William B Yeats (P63) and LÉ George B Shaw (P64).
Each of the four OPVs, commissioned in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019, are fitted with twin Wärtsilä 26 main engines, as well as Wärtsilä CP propellers, gearboxes, two Enviroguard shaft seals and two Floodguard shaft seals.
The service agreement between the INS and Wärtsilä is designed to ensure operational reliability and long-term cost predictability. The scope of the agreement includes maintenance planning and 24/7 remote operational support, including Wärtsilä Expert Insight, a digital predictive maintenance solution that uses AI and advanced diagnostics to monitor onboard equipment and services in real time.
The agreement provides close coverage of the OPVs’ main engines, propulsion machinery and shaft seals. It also includes crew training services, a technical adviser, maintenance planning, full operational support and all scheduled maintenance spare parts.
