Former patrol vessel LE Emer, which was decommissioned by the Naval Service in September after 35 years of service, has been sold to a Nigerian businessman at auction for €320,000.London-based Cyprian Imobhio, who is the chief executive and managing director of the Uniglobe Group, said he was happy with his purchase at the recent auction in Carrigaline, Co Cork.
“It was a good price – but I would have preferred to get her for €200,000,” he told The Irish Times.
Imobhio, who also owns seven other ships, said he was unsure if the military vessel – which has been stripped of its armaments and is undergoing remodelling at its current Cork base – will be for private or commercial use.
“Commercially, I could probably use it for protection in the Niger Delta off Nigeria to provide security for oil companies,” he added. “We are doing that kind of work today in that area, but not with equipment this big.”
