#GermanNavy – Following Chancellor Merkel's recent visit to the European People's Party annual congress in the Convention Centre, Dublin, a German Navy task group are visiting downriver in Dublin Port for the St. Patrick's Weekend, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Among the task force group is FGS Frankfurt am Main (A1412), a Berlin-class group fuel-supply vessel or (AOR) which has already docked this morning.

The AOR (auxiliary oiler replenishment) can also handle containers for military stores, equipment and at the stern is a deck for helicopters.

The 174m AOR berthed at the port's deepwater berth along the south quays beyond the MTL Container Terminal, Ringsend. She has visited the capital before having previously docked also at this berth.

Accompanying the AOR is a flotilla of three ships which will be allocated berths elsewhere on the northern quays. They are the Bremen class frigate FGS Augsberg (F213), the Brandenburg class FGS Hamburg (F220) and the smallest of the three frigates, the Braunschweig class FGS Oldenberg (F263).

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, by our Cork Correspondent, a German Navy sail-training vessel, Gorch Foch is also to pay a visit from today and remaining to 29 March. The three-master of 81m in length will be berthed at Cobh Cruise Terminal.

The crew will be happy to welcome the public for "open ship" events on Sunday, 16 March and Sunday, 23 March, from 2 – 5 p.m. All are welcome, admission is free, no prior registration is required.