Waterford hosted a 21st "birthday" celebration yesterday for the LE Aoife, which docked in the city for a major careers exhibition for students. Held in Jury's Hotel, the Naval Service had an exhibition stand and the LE Aoife was open to students to visit during the day.
A Naval Service spokesman said the ship, one of four offshore patrol vessels, had strong links with Waterford and had been "officially adopted" by the corporation in 1997. It was appropriate, therefore, that it should find itself in the city 21 years to the day since it went into operational service.
To mark its association with the city, the captain of the vessel, Lt Cdr Chris Nalty, hosted a reception on board for local dignitaries. Later, with crew members, he visited the paediatric ward of Waterford Regional Hospital, where they presented toys to the children and a cheque to the hospital.
The LE Aoife, which is 62 metres long and has a crew of 45, was built in the former Verolme dockyard in Cork.