The Naval Service (Irish: an tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh) is the maritime component of the Defence Forces of Ireland and is one of the three standing branches of the Irish Defence Forces. Its base is in Haulbowline, County Cork.Though preceded by earlier maritime defence organisations, the modern Naval Service was formed in 1946. Since the 1970s a major role of the Naval Service has been the provision of fisheries protection in Ireland's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).