A 22,000-tonne British warship, HMS Ocean, was docked at Alexandra Basin, Dublin, last night.
The British Ambassador, Mr Stewart Eldon, hosted an on-board reception to mark Scotland's national day, St Andrew's Day, which fell on Sunday.
The guest of honour at last night's function was Ms Margaret Curran, the minister for communities in the Scottish Executive. It was also attended by members of a visiting Scottish trade mission.
HMS Ocean, commissioned in 1998, is an amphibious helicopter carrier, but it has the ability to deploy troops from its landing craft as well as by air. The ship, based in Devon, carries a crew of 255 and an aircrew of 206.
In a short-term emergency it can transport and sustain a military force of up to 800 men equipped with artillery, vehicles and stores.
It can also accommodate up to 12 Sea King or Merlin helicopters, plus six Apache helicopters and four landing craft.