A NEW Irish navy vessel docked yesterday across the Liffey from the Dublin convention centre, where it will support a testing centre for the Covid-19 virus.

The Navy ship was greeted by bagpipes played by a member of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) as it pulled up into the Dublin Docklands yesterday evening.

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The navy vessel, L Niamh began working to support a nearby testing centre this morning.

The main testing area is set up on tents on the quay wall and nobody being tested will set foot on board the vessel, Lieutenant commander Gavin McCarthy told the Irish Sun.

The swabs used to collect samples will also stay on dry land to be tested.

The navy vessel will be used to provide administrative and technical support to the HSE staff and army medics in the in the main testing centre tents on Sir John Rogerson's Quay.

The ship also provides hot water, food and WiFi to staff working on the quay.

The L Niamh, took over from the L George Bernard Shaw which had been supporting the test centre.

The Irish Naval Service described the scene on Twitter, saying: "Welcomed alongside by a Lone Piper, Christy OBrien, IUNVA, L Niamh arrived in Dublin yesterday and took over from L George Bernard Shaw"

They said the vessel was "now helping to run a test centre as part of glaigh na hirean's [the Irish Defence Forces] efforts to assist the HSE fight Covid-19."

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The L George Bernard Shaw sailed from the Dublin docklands this afternoon after handing over their responsibilities to the L Niamh the night before.

A navy spokesperson said that he was not able to tell The Irish Sun where the ship's next destination was.

Irish navy vessels have also been supporting test centres in Cork and Galway.

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Coronavirus in Ireland Navy ship greeted by bagpipes as it arrives in Dublin docklands to support Covid t - The Irish Sun