#AoifetoDryDock - Former Naval Service OPV LÉ Aoife which is under the ownership of the Maltese authorities having been donated by the Irish Government is to undergo a refit, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The 'Emer' class OPV is to enter dry-dock tomorrow at Cork Dockyard. The facility in Rushbrooke is where LÉ Aoife was built in 1978 on the same site of the former Verolme Cork Dockyard.
The refit works on veteran vessel is scheduled to end by 14 August and then the OPV is to make her delivery voyage to the Mediterranean. She is to join the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) maritime squadron and is expected to carry out in the rescue of refugees setting out from north Africa.
At the end of June the AFM raised of flag of the island state on board the 1,019 tonnes 'Aoife' which was berthed at the basin of the Naval Base on Haulbowline. It was here that naval personnel from the Maltese maritime squadron underook training as part of the donation deal of the OPV and to increase closer co-operation on defence matters between Ireland and Malta.
The transfer of Aoife to Malta will be the largest vessel in the Maltese navy fleet though it is understood she will act as an interim measure as the AFM are to acquire a new OPV but not due for another four years.
Currently, the 65.2m long vessel is moored alongside the quays of the Cork Dockyard from where she has been for several weeks. As she lies moored opposite Monkstown in Cork Harbour, another visible sign of the transfer to the AFM is that she flies the Irish tricolour on the mainmast as distinct to the stern during her Naval Service career. Instead as referred above the Maltese flag is flown at the ship's 'cruiser' shaped stern.
Added to this is that the timber name plate has been removed from her superstructure, yet her pennant number of P22 still remains on the bow. This pennent number according to the The Times of Malta is to change to P62 for the AFM. Afloat.ie adds this is a coincidence given that this same number has been designated to her direct Irish Naval Service replacement the LÉ James Joyce.
This leaves the final ageing 'Emer' class LE Aisling (P23) to soldier on in the Naval Service. She will be replaced by the third OPV90 or 'Beckett' class the LÉ William Butler Yeats which is due for delivery in 2016.
