As the international community takes action against arms smuggling in Libya, an Irish naval vessel is gearing up to enforce a maritime blockade in the Mediterranean.
Lieutenant Commander Alan Flynn is leading a crew of over 50 sailors aboard the LÉ William Butler Yeats, and has confirmed readiness to board vessels suspected of arms smuggling.
The Irish naval vessel is set to depart from its base on Haulbowline Island, in Cork Harbour on Thursday, joining the European naval arms embargo initiative, Operation IRINI. This mission is led by the EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR).
In Rome, the mission headquarters is already staffed by a small team of three Irish Defence Forces personnel, drawn from the naval service and the Air Corps.
Once in position, off the eastern Libyan coast, the Yeats will surveil shipping activity in and out of Libyan waters. This marks the second deployment of Irish naval vessels to the Mediterranean, following Operation Pontus, a mission focused on migrant rescue.
As Lieutenant Commander Flynn explained, “Operation IRNI, a EUNAVFOR mission, primarily tasks us with enforcing the arms embargo on Libya, making it quite distinct from the humanitarian-focused Operation Pontus.”
Once suspicion arises over possible embargo violations, the Irish crew will seek consent from the suspected vessels and their home nations, before proceeding to board and investigate.
Flynn emphasised that the Irish vessel forms part of a larger European operation, with numerous ships and aircraft from across the continent aiding their efforts. The crew of the Yeats, including five women among its 58 members, is enthusiastic and ready for the task ahead.
Several crew members bring experience from previous missions, such as Operations Pontus and Sophia, to the table. Meanwhile, in Rome, Irish Naval Officer, Commander Frank O’Connor fills a senior role within the command staff of IRNI, alongside Captain Jason McDermott of the Air Corps, and Chief Petty Officer Jeremiah Foley.
On his part, the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, welcomed this announcement stating, “The deployment of LÉ William Butler Yeats on Operation IRINI will provide the operation with highly skilled and capable personnel with experience in Maritime Defence and Security Operations (MDSO).
“This deployment is crucial to the regeneration of Ireland’s Navy, and is directly linked to our efforts to recruit, retain, and incentivise seagoing,” he added.
Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service, Commodore Michael Malone, stated: “With ambitions for the expansion of the Naval Service as outlined in the Commission on the Defence Forces report, this deployment presents an opportunity to build on the experiences gained through previous maritime overseas missions. Our sailors bring vital experience to bear in what remains a dynamic operational role.”
