LÉ Emer (P21) of the Irish Naval Service, now known as NNS Prosperity of the Nigerian Navy, was built as a patrol vessel in Verolme Dockyard, Cork, Ireland in 1977.[1]
 Emer at Haulbowline in October 2007
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Ireland | |
| Name | LÉ Emer |
| Namesake | Emer, the principal wife of Cúchulainn |
| Builder | Verolme Dockyard, Cork |
| Yard number | 29 |
| Laid down | 28 February 1977 |
| Launched | 26 September 1977 |
| Commissioned | 16 January 1978 |
| Decommissioned | 20 September 2013 |
| Homeport | Haulbowline Naval Base |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Discarded 2013 |
 Nigeria | |
| Name | NNS Prosperity |
| Acquired | Seized 2014 |
| Commissioned | 19 February 2015 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Emer-class offshore patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 1,019.5 tonnes Standard |
| Length | 65.2 m (214 ft) overall |
| Beam | 10.5 m (34 ft) |
| Draught | 4.4 m (14 ft) |
| Speed | 31.5 km/h (17.0 kn) maximum |
| Complement | 46 (5 officers and 41 ratings ) |
| Armament |
|
After evaluating Deirdre for 3 years, Emer was ordered by the Irish Naval Service in 1975. Commissioned in January 1978, she was named after Emer, the principal wife of Cúchulainn, a legendary Irish folk hero.[2]
She was an improved version of the sole of class Deirdre and similar to LÉ Aoife (P22) and LÉ Aisling (P23). She was commissioned on 16 January 1978 and had 35 years of service with the Irish Naval Service.[2]
Decommissioned on 20 September 2013,[3] in October 2013 Emer was sold at auction for €320,000 to a Nigerian businessman.[4]
In July 2014 Emer was impounded by the Nigerian Navy because the new owner had failed to secure the necessary military approval before bringing the ship into Nigerian waters.[5] On 19 February 2015 Emer was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy as a training ship and renamed NNS Prosperity.[6][7]
References
edit- ^ "Naval vessel LE Emer stood down". Irish Times. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ a b "LÉ Emer to be decommissioned in ceremony today". The Journal. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ Ralph, Riegel (28 August 2013). "New life as luxury liner or research ship awaits navy's oldest vessel". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ "Le Emer sold at auction for €320,000". 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Navy blames foreigners for most of crime on Nigeria waters". 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Nigeria: President Jonathan commissions 4 new Naval ships". 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Jonathan Commissions Four New Ships". 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015.
