New Naval Vessel
The latest addition to the Irish Naval Service fleet is to be launched today at a shipyard in England.
The L.E. Niamh is the second offshore patrol vessel of her type that has been custom made for the Irish Navy.
The ship, which will first sail to Cork for testing, measures 79 metres in length and 14 metres wide, it weighs 1500 tonnes.
The name was chosen following a nationwide schools competition, the winning entry belonged to a 13-year-old boy from Co. Galway.
The vessel will replace the L.E. Deirdre, which will be decommissioned next month
