Between 1st and 3rd of June the Irish Naval Service vessel L. E. Niamh shall visit Punta Arenas, under command of Captain Ken Minehane.

The ship will be docked in Arturo Prat's where it may be visited by people from 15 to 18 hours.

The Irish Navy informed the L.E. Niamh has set sail on a 10 week mission to Latin America, where Chile and Argentina celebrate the 200th anniversary of their independence this year, and the deployment takes place in support of Ireland's ongoing trade and diplomatic links with the region. Many Irishmen and women were associated with the achievement of independence.

After visiting some Latin America countries, the next port of call will be Buenos Aires in Argentina on the 23rd of May. This will be the main focus of the bi-centenary celebrations, which will involve naval vessels from other American countries.

The Chilean port of Punta Arenas in the Magellan Strait near Cape Horn will be the next stop for the L.E. Niamh on the 1st of June. It was from here that Ernest Shackleton finally set sail to rescue his stranded crew on Elephant Island following an unsuccessful attempt to cross the Antarctic in his 1914-16 expedition. The L.E. Niamh will be the first Irish Naval Service vessel to sail this far south.

Having navigated the Magellan Strait, the ship enters the Pacific Ocean heading for Valparaiso in Chile, where she is due to dock on the 7th of June. This visit will again strengthen ties between Chile and Ireland, acknowledging the significant role Irishmen and women played in its independence.