No fanfare as `Roisin' sails into Cork

With no band and no politicians to greet it, the State's £20 million Naval Service patrol ship Roisin entered territorial waters for the first time yesterday and docked at Haulbowline, Co Cork, in the dark.

The Naval Service has denied that the arrival was deliberately low-key and said the timing of 7.30 a.m. - 45 minutes before sunrise - was to suit the tide.

The vessel, under the command of Lieut Cdr Tom Doyle, was greeted by the Naval Base commanding officer's representative, Lieut Cdr Liam Donaldson, and the chaplain, Father Des Campion.

The vessel steamed with a "ferry", or basic crew, in a southwesterly gale to Cork Harbour from the Devon shipyard where it was built on contract for the State.

According to the Defence Forces, technical issues which had to be sorted out with the yard under the terms of the contract had delayed the delivery.

Roisin will be fitted with its 76 mm Oto Melara gun before sea trials in the coming weeks. It does not become a "long Eireannach" (LE) until it is formally commissioned by the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith.

The P51 ship was ordered by the Minister almost two years ago. It is designed to combine the speed of existing coastal patrol vessels with the endurance of an offshore patrol craft.

Mr Smith has said he is committed to taking up an option from the Devon shipyard for another similar vessel. However, the Government is keen to maintain an eight-ship navy, and the delivery of another vessel before the decommissioning of LE Deirdre would expand the fleet to nine.

Roisin arrived in time for a passing-out parade of recruit class Bravo 99 at Haulbowline. The 23 students from eight counties graduated after 16 weeks of training.

In Galway, the first Naval Service officer to graduate from the Defence Forces' new university training scheme was awarded his degree.

Sub-Lieut Caoimhin Mac Unfraidh (24) obtained his BSc degree in physics at NUI Galway, which is tailored to the Naval Service's needs and includes modules on meteorology, oceanography, leadership and management and maritime law. in, who is 24 years old,

Sub-Lieut in Mac Unfraidh is a son of Mr Antoin Mac Unfraidh, of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Ms Maire Nic Aoidh. He is due to take up a post on the LE Aoife when he has completed his bridge watchkeeping certificate.