#EmerAficanArrival -Only days after L.E. Samuel Beckett's completion of a first patrol and major exercise, the vessel she directly replaced the Emer arrived off the Nigerian capital of Lagos today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported, she departed Cork Harbour for the final time on 7 June on a delivery voyage estimated to take three weeks. Therefore she took just over a fortnight to complete the journey as this morning she took anchorage off Lagos.

The former Naval Service OPV had undergone dry-docking in Cork Dockyard following her sale last year to Uniglobe International Services. She is to be placed on charter work serving the oil energy exploration sector where her primary role is to protect personnel when transferring technicians and workers to platforms.

As previously reported, one of her sisters L.E. Aoife took part in last week's naval manouvere off the south coast and the 1980 built vessel is understood to be decommissioned towards the end of this year.

Her direct replacement is the second 'Beckett' class, L.E. James Joyce due for delivery in the first quarter of 2015. At that stage, this will leave the sole 'Emer' class, L.E. Aisling in service though she too will be displaced by the third newbuild due to enter service in 2016.