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Today's Naval Service, based in Haulbowline, Co. Cork, is a modern and
sophisticated organisation. The fleet consists of one helicopter carrying ship,
five offshore patrol vessels and two fast coastal patrol vessels. They are
equipped with state of the art machinery, weapons and communications and
navigation systems.
The main role of the Naval Service, as part of the Defence Forces, is to
deter incidents of aggression against the state, to uphold neutrality and to
ensure that the law is being observed in our territorial seas. In addition, the
day to day peace time role of the Naval Service, include fishery protection
duties, search and rescue, diving operations and pollution control. Along with
the Garda Síochana and the Customs and Excise, the Naval Service is involved in
the prevention of the importation of illegal drugs into the country. Naval
Service ships conduct courtesy visits to European Ports and undertake annual
overseas supply missions to the Irish troops serving with the United Nations in
the Lebanon. Fishery protection is an important task of the Naval Service which
has increased enormously since Ireland joined the European Union and the
subsequent declaration of the 200 mile exclusive economic zone (132,000 square
miles of ocean). The Naval Service operates closely with the Air Corps Maritime
Squadron (2 CASA Maritime patrol aircraft) in its task of fishery protection.
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