The Irish leased MV Caterina for sealift

[Sea Toby]

Earlier this year Ireland leased the Georgian merchant ship MV Caterina for sealift of its army's equipment to Liberia. She was not a ro-ro vessel, everything had to be lifted by crane, 11 containers and dozens of military vehicles. No wonder why the Irish government is considering purchasing a MEKO 200 MRV, or a sister New Zealand MRV.

I have tried Googling MV Caterina and have come up with no results.

Here are a couple of links of this rust bucket:

http://www.irishmilitaryonline.com/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=1747&d=1151446426

http://www.irishmilitaryonline.com/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=1748&d=1151446448

 

[stryker NZ]

thats thing looks in a sad condition the irish really need their own transport ship dont they. it dosnt look that big ether do you know how much equipment they jammed into it

 

[icelord]

Russia might have something less rusted
Have the irish not noticed this problem before, or have they never deployed?

 

[Sea Toby]

Here is a link to some pictures of the MEKO 200 MRV and some information. Its the ship their navy offered to buy in January, but it appears their army may prefer the NZ MRV instead, it has more vehicle lane meters. An order is expected soon by the Irish government.

It carried 11 containers and around 24 vehicles.

 

[merocaine]

Russia might have something less rusted
Have the irish not noticed this problem before, or have they never deployed?

been in the leb since 1986, usually lease britsh sea lift capibility

 

[Sea Toby]

As I have noted before on other threads, many nations are interested in improving their sea lift capabilities, including small nations which have had none before. Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, Portugal, Canada, and Malaysia.

As a nation providing peacekeeping troops abroad, its embarassing to have to ask other nations for assistance. While the Irish were able to lease a merchant vessel to move their army's equipment to Liberia, once the ship arrived in theater, the Irish had to use the good will and usage of the Dutch Rotterdam to move its equipment and troops into position. The roro Rotterdam won marks in its Army's reports compared to the lift on lift off rat infested rust bucket. If they had their own proper sea lift ship, there wouldn't have been the need to load and unload twice.

In the recent past Ireland's navy has operated offshore patrol vessels. Similar to other nations, Ireland is waking up to the fact that having a sea lift ship is a more valuable asset than offshore patrol vessels especially in the eyes of the army and their political leaders. When the UN calls its becoming clear to many nations sea lift assets are required.

 

[contedicavour]

If a country lacks LPDs there is no shame in leasing commercial ships, especially civilian ro-ro fast transport ships.
Besides, in most overseas missions it's just a matter of transporting troops and material from one harbor to another. You don't really need a LPD to do that...
I'm not underestimating the need for real amphibious assets; just pointing out that they should be used only for the right missions.

cheers

 

[Sea Toby]

I mentioned a sea lift ship, not necessarily an amphibious ship. Since few of the smaller navies need an amphibious ship, most are approaching sea lift with a multi-role vessel, capable of either patrol or combining replenishment with sea lift.

It appears Ireland's navy, for example, wishes to purchase a MEKO 200 MRV, a frigate sized Offshore Patrol Vessel with a vehicle deck. Denmark purchased a few Absalon MRVs, a destroyer sized offshore patrol vessel with a vehicle deck. New Zealand purchased a ferry, capable of sea lift, offshore patrol, and training. Canada appears to be purchasing a larger MRV, capable of underway replenishment along with a vehicle deck for sea lift. None of these are amphibious ships, they are roro vessels capable of moving their army for a UN mission abroad and/or a humanitarian mission.

Since their navies will maintain these sea lift ships, the government will most likely not have to lease on short notice a rat infested, lift on lift off, rusty merchant vessel. The price of a proper sea lift vessel such as the MEKO 200 MRV and/or the New Zealand MRV approaches $100 million in US dollars. This is significantly less than any amphibious ship, most running over $200 million for a brand new vessel.

The key to a successful MRV sea lift vessel is being able to move the army's company for smaller nations or a battalion for larger nations. And as far as the armies are concerned, a sea lift vessel is of more importance than a offshore patrol vessel or frigate. Of course, navies think differently. But I wonder whether prime ministers and presidents of many nations feel the same as the army or the navy. I'm willing to think the former, the army wins.