The Naval Service patrol ship, LE Niamh, is on route to China, having set out to sea in a south-westerly gale from Cork harbour yesterday.
The ship, under the command of Lieut-Cmdr Gerry O'Flynn, has been despatched on the 25,000-mile mission as part of the State's most ambitious overseas trade promotion.
The voyage - the cost of which is estimated at over €1 million - will provide a platform for Irish trade in Singapore, China, Korea and Japan, as the ship is officially "sovereign Irish territory".
The route, via the Mediterranean sea and Suez Canal, will take in Singapore, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China), Shanghai, Inchon in south Korea, Tokyo in Japan, and Penang in Malaysia. The Minister for Defence has emphasised that the ship will be engaged initially on a re-supply mission to Irish soldiers serving with the United Nations in Asmara in Eritrea, north-east Africa. Some 220 Irish soldiers have been serving with the UN missions in Ethiopia and Eritrea since December last.
The project is being spearheaded by Enterprise Ireland and is the outcome of a study undertaken in 1999 by the Government's Asia Strategy Committee, aimed at long-term development of Irish trade in Asia.
The report of the group, which is chaired by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, identified Ireland's lack of profile in the region.
The report advised that the State increase the resources devoted to Asia and it recommended that China and Japan be singled out for major promotional efforts. Both the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, have led trade missions to China and Japan in the last three years as part of this strategy.
Some 70 Irish companies working in the region will be involved in promotions on the ship in the various ports. Some 2,000 Asian business representatives have been targeted during the three-month mission.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Bord Fáilte and Bord Bia are also involved in the project. The estimated cost of the voyage at over €1 million includes the crew's wage bill during that period. The actual cost of berthage and pilotage is estimated at €100,000. The Government's Asia strategy fund will subvent the estimated €50,000 cost of marketing, promotions and entertainment. Individual companies will also pay for catering costs.
The Department of Defence has said there will be no crew rotation, and lost time on fishery protection duties would be made up by the other patrol ships.