#EmerNIGERIA – The former Naval Service OPV L.E. Emer took the short journey between the Naval Base on Haulbowline Island to Cork Dockyard Ltd today for upgrading work for her new owners, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The 65m vessel was brought at public auction last month for €320,000 by Nigerian based Uniglobe Group and is to be used for work in the Niger Delta.
For now she is likely to remain at the dockyard into next month before finally departing from the Rushbrooke facility. She was launched in 1978 from the same site when Verolme Cork Dockyard had run the shipbuilding business that saw five patrol vessels commissioned for the Naval Service.
Her new owner Mr. Imhobio who is a resident for parts of the year in London had said the ship may call to capital. The decision to make an en-route call to the capital though remains subject to the cost of the diversion in both time and miles as part of her repositioning voyage to Nigeria.
