The Irish naval vessel the LÉ Samuel Beckett is to become a makeshift testing centre for the coronavirus.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is set to announce the move on Sunday.
It will hold a briefing in Dublin city centre alongside the Irish Naval Service.
The LÉ Samuel Beckett is to become operational as a testing centre.
Work has been ongoing to convert the ship as needed, according to the Defence Forces Corps of Engineers.
@DF_Engineers from 2 Bde Engr Gp have been conducting #ATCA Operations in support of the HSE today, providing essential services including power and lighting for a #Coronavirus Testing Centre alongside the @naval_service ship LE Samuel Beckett in Dublin pic.twitter.com/wSxKAXMbdO
— Defence Forces Engineer Corps (@DF_Engineers) March 21, 2020
The ship is an offshore patrol vessel, which is also designed to cope with the rigors of the North East Atlantic.
She holds a crew of 44.
The vessel has previously participated in rescue missions in the Mediterranean, as well as a European military operation targeting gangs and vessels involved in trafficking.
Dublin's Croke Park has already been designated a testing centre.
While earlier this week, Business Minister Heather Humphreys suggested other GAA clubs across the country could follow suit.
"Quite a few GAA clubs have actually contacted me and they said that that their facility is suitable and to put then on the list and they'll make themselves available to the HSE so that we can have more of those facilities across the country", she said on Wednesday.
