Feature 1 | PATROL BOATS OPVs offer small navies greater presence


Offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are an effective means of providing small navies with tailor-made ships for specific maritime security roles. Harry T Reynolds updates us on the latest offerings.


T


he naval patrol boat market can be broadly divided into two camps: boats built for short-duration


high-end warfare and those designed for longevity to provide a naval presence and fulfil mission-specific roles. The war-fighting patrol vessels are a


much rarer breed and are more costly because they are fitted with expensive weapons systems, advanced command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) sensors, communications equipment and a combat management system, which all come at a price. Patrol ships equipped for combat operations will also have additional survivability features, powerful engines for fast interception speeds and short-duration high-intensity missions. At the other end of the spectrum are


the naval presence patrol vessels, which are cheaper, equipped with basic gun armaments, standard navigation sensors and built to commercial standards. Designed for sustained low-intensity missions the platform will be relatively simple with policing and patrol missions in mind rather than combat or special operations. Some of these patrol vessels are fitted for civil tasks such as pollution control, fire-fighting, salvage or search and rescue (SAR) and are fitted with only the extra sensors and systems required to fulfil their niche capability. Ultimately the choice of patrol vessel will


depend on a country’s naval requirements that result from its geographic location, political environment and intended role of the naval force. Most patrol vessel procurement programmes are for the presence patrol ships – the cheap multirole variety, designed to show the flag and provide security in a country’s economic exclusive zone (EEZ).


Newbuild vessels On 8 December 2008 Dutch shipbuilder, Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, announced it


18


Holland-class patrol vessel for the Royal Netherlands Navy is equipped for constabulary missions and has the capability to act as a mother ship for small boats and a helicopter (credit: Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding).


had laid the keel for the first of four new Holland-class patrol ships for the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN). At 108m loa and displacing 3750tonnes these are slightly larger than most patrol boats. Tese are replacing six Karel Doorman- class frigates reflecting the change in priorities for the RNLN, which has moved away from a war-fighting navy to a constabulary role. Te four ships will be equipped with two


5400kW diesel engines that will provide power for a top speed of 21kt and a range of 5000nm at 15kts. Te hull material is steel grade D/DH36 and has an endurance at sea of 21 days. Ship deliveries are due from 2011-13 and the RNLN will use them for maritime interdiction and SAR operations in the Netherlands EEZ and in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. Designed with a flight deck for an NH90


helicopter, a 10ton deck crane, two rigid hull inflatable boats and a fast rescue boat,


the patrol ships will act as a mother ship from where the fast boats and helicopters will operate to carry out law enforcement missions. A patrol ship designed for endurance does not require high speeds for its operations or long-range missile armaments and are equipped with a single 76mm gun, 20mm-30mm cannon and two machine guns.


Arctic-going vessels Canada has a specific niche patrol vessel requirement for operations in the Arctic Ocean as the Canadian Navy does not currently possess ice-capable ships that can operate effectively in this region. On 9 July 2007 Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a procurement programme for up to eight ice-capable arctic OPVs (A/ OPVs) with a Polar class 5 classification. The project is estimated to cost about CAN$3.1 billion (US$2.45 billion) and the first vessel is due for delivery in 2013.


Ship & Boat International March/April 2009


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