An Cosantóir

49 75 YEARS OF SERVICE In recognition of the unselfish bravery and devotion to duty, both sailors were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Spanish Cross of Naval Merit in recognition of their attempt to rescue the Spanish crew. The Cocaine Trail Ireland's position on the west coast of Europe has made her a key destination for international and domestic drug smugglers. There have been huge successes against this horrendous trade; 'Operation Seabight' in 2008, when an estimated €675 million worth of Colombian cocaine was seized from a 60-foot sloop, 'Dances With Waves' off the Cork coast. This was an international operation where LÉ RÓISÍN and LÉ NIAMH were the tip of the sword. Again, in September 2014, a huge inter-agency operation was conducted using the LÉ RÓISÍN and LÉ NIAMH. In challenging conditions at night, 250 miles west south west of Mizen head, the yacht 'The Makayabella' was apprehended. The trial judge described the €350 million haul as "colossal" and "mind boggling" when he sentenced the crew to 73 years in total for their part in the smuggling. In just the last few months the NS was involved in the seizure of €250m worth of hashish, seized by Spanish authorities acting on information received from Ireland. Information provided by the Irish Navy, An Garda Síochána and Revenue Customs Service to the Portgual-based Maritime Analysis Operations Centre - Narcotics (MAOC-N) led to the find. The drugs found aboard the fishing vessel the Odyssey 227 represents one of the largest hashish seizures ever made in European waters. Operation PONTUS It could be argued that the pinnacle of Naval Service operations have been those carried out in the Mediterranean since 2015. In 2015, Italy was dealing with a migration crisis nearly alone. Fatalities were mounting as desperate people displaced by wars or conflicts, and vast numbers of people displaced by poor economic conditions, attempted the perilous journey across the Southern Mediterranean in unseaworthy craft. The LÉ EITHNE was the first to depart in May 2015. She forged the trail that LÉ NIAMH and LÉ SAMUEL BECKETT followed over the course of the year, pausing as the winter weather closed in. Each year thereafter Ireland continued to answer that call, with three ships dispatched annually to conduct missions which were complex and dangerous, not just recovering panicky people from sinking craft; but the traumatic task of recovering deceased persons from dark and cramped bilges, and the sea. Operation SOPHIA The NS transitioned to EUNAVFOR Operation SOPHIA in 2017 and committed vessels to this UN mandated mission until 2019. Op SOPHIA's mission was primarily a security operation, designed to disrupt the trafficker's business model, and to counter oil and weapons smuggling. Irish sailors continue to serve in EUNAVFOR HQ in Rome as part of Operation IRINI, the successor mission to SOPHIA. Over 18,000 individuals were rescued over the course of the deployments, tragically with many deceased also recovered. Working in harsh environmental conditions, and bearing witness to human suffering (normally only associated with violent conflict) the sailors of the NS completed all tasks assigned to them. The manner in which they performed their harrowing duties, has been in keeping with the finest traditions of the service and of Óglaigh na hÉireann. Operation FORTITUDE On 26th February 2020 the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was detected in Ireland. The entire country braced for impact of what was declared a global pandemic a few days later, in March. The Defence Forces launched Operation Fortitude to support the nation throughout this crisis. NS ships deployed in Cork, Galway, and Dublin. Operating as test centres and logistics hubs, six different vessels rotated through these duties while still continuing delivery of MDSO taskings around the coast. LÉ EITHNE, LÉ SAMUEL BECKETT, LÉ JAMES JOYCE, LÉ WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS, LÉ GEORGE BERNARD SHAW and LÉ NIAMH all played their part to strengthen the nation. NS Reserve personnel supported the ships throughout these unique deployments. Bravo Zulu The last seventy-five years have seen the NS prove itself capable, adaptable, resilient and responsive. The next thirty years are being charted by a Commission on the Defence Forces, which is examining every facet of its structure and its work. With a firm commitment to the fleet replacement programme by Government, including the purchase of a new large Multirole Vessel to replace our flagship, LÉ EITHNE, there will certainly be no lack of challenges to come. It will be for the youngest of today's sailors to navigate what lies ahead. They have proven themselves equal to any challenge, proudly continuing a legacy forged by those who have gone before. v Deceased persons recovered from the sea by LÉ Ailsing are carried ashore by sailors. Photo: NS Archives v The arms, explosives and ammunition from the Marita Ann. Photo: EMPICS Photo Agency v LE Eithne recovered 3,600 migrants approx during 22 missions in 63 days during OP PONTUS on her first mission in 2015. Photo: NS Press Office v LE Samuel Becketts crew before departing on OP SOPHIA in 2018. The first NS vessel to complete a full EUNAVFOR mission. Photo: NS Press Office

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