Removal of asbestos from navy ships begins

A specialist company has started removing asbestos from two Naval Service ships which have been locked down for a number of weeks due to the discovery of the potentially lethal substance onboard.

A Naval Service spokeswoman confirmed to the Irish Examiner that “a deep environmental clean” is now underway on the LÉ Ciara and LÉ Orla.

The spokeswoman said the clean-up is expected to take a number of weeks and on its completion “an independent asbestos consultancy company will carry out air monitoring and analysis” to ensure the vessels are safe to be reoccupied by navy personnel in accordance with Health and Safety Authority guidelines.