Call for asbestos probe of all older Naval ships

The organisation representing naval ratings has demanded a thorough examination of all the Naval Service’s older ships to ensure they are asbestos-free.

PDFORRA (Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association) also expressed concern about the manner in which asbestos was discovered on the LE Orla as she was undergoing routine maintenance at Verolme dockyard this week.

Following the discovery, her sister ship, LE Ciara, which was also brought into service in 1985, was also locked down. The ship was also undergoing routine maintenance, but in the naval service’s own dockyard at Haulbowline.