Since the St. Patrick's Day arrival of LÉ William Butler Yeats to Galway Harbour to assist the HSE in the critical role of conducting Covid-19 testing, the offshore patrol vessel however departed yesterday with a handover of another OPV, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The testing centre consisting of quayside field tents also erected by Defence Forces personnel continues its vital work in the Port of Galway where LÉ James Joyce arrived to the mid-west port's Dun Aengus Dock. This change of the Naval Service vessel followed with the OPV swapping with LÉ William Butler Yeats having met in Galway Bay.

LÉ William Butler Yeats then was able to resume patrols and is currently conducting maritime defence and security operations within Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The involvement of LÉ James Joyce in assisting the HSE, now completes in all of the OPV90 /P60 class quartet taking part in the State's fight against Covid-19 where brave personel have been tasked in such challenging circumstances.

This also applied to the officers and crew of the OPV80 / P50 class LÉ Niamh which this day last week arrived to Dublin Port alongside the Covid-19 testing centre in Dublin Port at Sir John Rogerson's Quay. A handover of patrol vessels also took place in the capital with LÉ George Bernard Shaw relieved of duties having previously taken the same role from LÉ Samuel Beckett. The leadship of the P60 class became the first Naval Service vessel tasked in such a Covid-19 role. 

In addition the LÉ Eithne remains berthed in Cork City along Kennedy Quay where the flagship's role however does not include a test centre but other important duties such as delivering essential PPE supplies for the HSE.