Portents of doom associated with the eclipse may have been proved false; but Friday 13th is still dreaded as a date for some. Down in Dublin Port some fears have been expressed about the impact of a renaming ceremony on an Irish ship.
The vessel, Granuaile, is tender ship for the Commissioners of Irish Lights. It is to be renamed Granuaile II this morning.
The procedure involves painting the new name on the bow, and certification and registry approval by Customs and Excise, Lloyd's and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources.
Capt Kieran O'Higgins, spokesman for Irish Lights, explained that the choice of date related to the launch of the service's new ship in Romania tomorrow. Although the name of the new craft is a State secret, it is expected to bear close similarities to the existing tender. Capt O'Higgins said he trusted and hoped that nothing ill would befall the ship as a result of today's event in Dublin.
The new 80 m tender is to be launched tomorrow by Mrs Pippa MacLaren, wife of Mr Michael MacLaren, the chairman of Irish Lights.
The ship is due for delivery in December.
