Department of Defence targets new €200m, multi-purpose naval ship

The Royal New Zealand Navy multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury. It is expected the new vessel targeted by the Department of Defence will be similar in style to this. File Picture: Kristopher Radder

The Department of Defence has confirmed it intends to proceed with purchasing a new Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) for the Naval Service, which could be used as a hospital ship and would be capable of carrying troops and helicopters for amphibious and airborne landings.

A spokeswoman for the department said planning is "underway on this project".