#HMScaroline - For the first time in 32 years, HMS Caroline departed from its moorings in Belfast Harbour.
The Belfast Telegraph reports that the last remaining vessel from the World War One Battle of Jutland gently eased from its Alexandra Dock home yesterday (Friday) morning.
The 3,700-ton veteran light cruiser, sailed to Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries’ Belfast Dock for a scheduled hull inspection and repair.
Work is expected to last until Christmas before the ship then returns to its dock.
HMS Caroline serves as a monument to the 10,000 Irishmen who lost their lives at sea between 1914 and 1918.
Following a £15m restoration project, it opened to the public in June as a floating five-star museum and has already attracted more than 16,000 paying visitors.
For more on this rare towage operation, the newspaper features more photos click here.