Two ships which are due to go into service with the Irish Navy have arrived at Cork Harbour this evening.
The vessels have been bought for €26 million from the government of New Zealand and have been travelling from Auckland over the last number of weeks.
They are on board the Netherlands-registered cargo ship Happy Dynamic having sailed east from Auckland.
Their arrival follows the recent withdrawal from duties of the LÉ Orla and the LÉ Ciara and will be used by the Irish Naval Service for shore patrol.
The Department of Defence has said the vessels will be unloaded at Ringaskiddy on Tuesday and formally re-named at a later date.
They are expected to be operational early next year, according to the Dept.
Officers from the Irish Navy have been in New Zealand over the last few months preparing the ships for use in this part of the world, and getting ready to send them here on the Happy Dynamic transporter.
Crew capacity for the two ships is up to 20 each.
How do you ship a ship??
— Irish Naval Service (@naval_service) April 6, 2023
By using a ship shipping ship 🚢
The IPVs are getting ready to start their journey home 🇮🇪⚓#navy #IPV #capdev pic.twitter.com/jYQuyWfGxO
