Following a commissioning and naming ceremony of RV Tom Crean in Dingle Harbour, Co. Kerry, Ireland's newest research vessel made its maiden port of call to Dublin Port this evening, writes Jehan Ashmore

The Marine Institute's state-of-the-art multi-purpose €25m newbuild RV Tom Crean was tracked by Afloat.ie today at 1400hrs when offshore of Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow having sailed along Arklow Bank and beforehand in waters south of the Wexford coast.

About an hour earlier today (at lunchhour) it is believed a lighting strike took place at an offshore wind turbine on Arklow Bank as Afloat reported with smoke billowing from the 3.6MW turbine of the renewable energy facility.

The Arklow Bank Wind Farm completed in 2004 consists of seven turbines generating 25.2MW and the facility remains the first and only offshore wind farm in Ireland.

The turbine incident comes when Met Éireann issued early in the afternoon a Status Orange 'thunderstorm' warning for counties Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, with warning of "intense" lightning strikes which was in effect up to 1700hrs this afternoon.

Afloat has since caught up with the Spanish built RV Tom Crean as this evening the vessel approached Dublin Bay where coastal weather conditions in this part of the Irish Sea to Hook Head, is for east to southeasterly force 6 or 7 and occasionally reaching gale force 8 and with isolated thunderstorms.

The 55.8m ship is designed to operate in harsh conditions and was originally scheduled to be in Dublin Bay at 19.30hrs but was delayed by about two hours.

It was around 20.30hrs when off the Dublin Bay bouy the pilot cutter DPC Dodder (introduced in March) came alongside the newbuild to transfer a pilot on board. By that stage the wind had reduced compared to the afternoon. 

At approximately 20.55hrs RV Tom Crean passed between the lighthhouses of Dublin Port which marked a significant moment for the Irish flagged newbuild's debut to the capital.

A berth at Sir John Rogerson's Quay has been allocated within the old 'Docklands' quarter close to the city-centre with the RV Tom Crean to head up this stretch of the river Liffey. This can only be reached through the relative confines of the Tom Clarke (East-Link) toll lift-bridge which the newbuild achieved by 21.20hrs.

Following this the RV Tom Crean swung around completely on the Liffey so to come alongside the south quay and berth at around 21.30hrs. 

With the RV Tom Crean in service the Marine Institute can undertake cutting edge scientific surveys that deepen an understanding of the ocean and place Ireland as a leader in marine science.

The design for the new research vessel named after the Kerry born Antartic polar explorer was tasked to Norwegian ship design consultants Skipsteknisk AS of Ålesund. As for a shipbuilding order the contract went to the Spanish shipyard of Astilleros Armon Vigo S.A.

In July the RV Tom Crean made a maiden delivery voyage to the newbuild's homeport of Galway from where it will be based to undertake fisheries research, oceanographic and environmental research, seabed mapping surveys.

Other roles include maintaining and deploying weather buoys, observational infrastructure and the deployment of (ROV) Remotely Operated Vehicles.

As for the duration of the maiden call to Dublin Port, the visit will be short as the ship is scheduled to remain in port for 24 hours or possibly less given this evening's late arrival.