The Taoiseach Mr Ahern was among those who witnessed the formal naming of the world's largest passenger ferry, Ulysses, in Dublin today.
The IR£80 million Ulysses, named after James Joyce's classic novel, was built for the Irish Ferries company in Finland, and completed its maiden voyage from Scandinavia to Ireland two weeks ago. It will go into regular service on the Irish Sea at the end of the month.
The huge 50,938 tonne craft was named at a ceremony in Dublin port by Ms Mairead Berry (25) a swimming gold medal winner for Ireland at last year's Paralympic Games.
Mr Ahern headed the VIP guests who gathered to see the traditional smashing of a bottle of champagne against the hull.
The company says the 12-deck vessel is the biggest such ferry in the world and has parking decks extending for nearly three miles - enough room for more than 1,340 cars or 240 articulated trucks on each trip.
It will also be capable of carrying 2,000 passengers and crew on each trip when it starts sailing on the route between Dublin and the Anglesey port of Holyhead.
To complete the ferry's Joycean theme, most of the on-board features, which include a glass-fronted exterior lift and an observation deck as well as the ubiquitous Irish theme pub, have been named after characters and events in Ulysses.
Joyce fans who use the ferry will see a wooden bust of the writer as well as a series of impressionist paintings, and be given the opportunity of a walking tour of the ferry, outlining the story of his most noted work.
Ulyssesis the fourth new vessel to be introduced on Ireland-Britain routes by Irish Ferries in the past few years, bringing their investment in ships and services throughout the period to more than IR£355 million.
PA