The State's new €32 million marine research vessel, Celtic Explorer, arrived for the first time in Irish waters yesterday and docked in Galway harbour.
Billed as the "world's quietest" research ship, the 65-metre vessel has been constructed to meet international underwater noise requirements for accurate fish stock assessment.
One of its first challenges yesterday was navigating its way through the notoriously narrow Galway lock gates on the top of the tide, with the help of Galway port pilots.
Also providing an escort out in Galway Bay was the Naval patrol ship, the LE Eithne.
The vessel steamed to the west coast from Norway, where it was undergoing trials.
It is one of only two European research vessels to comply with the low sound requirements set by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
In its case it actually exceeded them, according to its owner, the Marine Institute.
Not only Norway, but also Romania and Holland have had a hand in constructing the 2,500-tonne ship, which will join its sister vessel, Celtic Voyager, on research of this coastline.
The vessel's keel was laid in Galatz, Romania, in July of last year, and once the superstructure was completed it was sent to Vlissingen in Holland in July of this year for fitting out.
The vessel was launched in Holland last September, and subsequently was equipped with deck machinery.
The ship undertook sea trials in November,when it was visited by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern.
Over the next three months, scientific instruments and electronic equipment will be tested further, and new crew members, including some from the fishing industry, will be trained in.
The ship is due to be commissioned and will begin work in April 2003.
The Marine Institute, which is relocating to Galway with a new purpose-built premises at Oranmore, said that the ship "will deliver real-time information on the fisheries resource".
This will "put Ireland in a much stronger position to propose effective conservation measures for fish stocks and support the sustainability of the Irish fishing industry", the institute said.
The ship will also provide a platform for oceanographic work, environmental and geological sampling, acoustic research operations and buoy laying and recovery.
The Celtic Explorer can accommodate 31 people, 19 of them scientists, under the command of Capt Philip Baugh.The ship has a speed of 14 knots and is capable of remaining at sea for 45 days continuously.
