#ThirdNavyVisitor – It’s been a busy week so far in Dublin Port in terms of visiting European navies, as the Belgians are the latest to call to the capital from where French and Dutch vessels in recent days have departed, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Of the Belgium Navy, three vessels this morning berthed at Sir John Rogersons Quay. They are BNS Godetia, an auxiliary command and logistical support ship, BNS Lobelia a ‘Tripartite’ class minehunter and BNS Pollux a patrol vessel. A sister of Lobelia, the BNS Primula formed one of the six NATO flotilla vessels that called to Dublin at the beginning of this month.

The Belgium trio have been honing naval exercise skills off the Welsh coast before heading off Wicklow Head and their arrival to Dublin Port around dawn. Their Irish visit takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Of the most recent departures, that was the French destroyer Cassard from Alexandra Basin yesterday, and on the previous day fleetmate Var, an auxiliary tanker.

Also to depart on Wednesday was Dutch submarine, HNLMS Walrus. The 68m long ‘Walrus’ class submarine departed Alexandra Basin with the assistence of tug sisters, Beaufort and Shackleton.