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Feature 1 | PATROL BOATS


Alta Mar programme and has joined with Chile to procure five vessels with a displacement of 1500-1800tons. The synchronisation of their respective procurement programmes slipped because of funding delays in Argentina. Te ships will be built at the Rio Santiago shipyard to the same Fassmer design as the Chilean boats with construction expected to begin in 2009. Neighbouring Brazil also has a


Built with modular container bays, the Knud Rasmussen is able to install powerful weapons systems if required (credit: DALO).


Using OPVs for constabulary roles


shows the versatility of the platforms and the reason for their use by a wide range of customers worldwide. Te South African Navy (SAN) has initiated Project Biro: the procurement of six multi-mission OPVs (MMOPVs) for ZAR1.8 billion (US$176 million) to be used as part of a new Maritime Reaction Squadron (MRS) that was created on 9 December 2008. Construction of the 85m loa, helicopter-


capable ships is expected to begin within six years and reach completion by 2016. It is expected that the new MMOPVs will replace the SAN’s fleet of ageing Warrior- class patrol ships and River-class coastal minehunters. A cheaper proposal on the table is to procure three smaller 55m IPVs in place of three of the MMOPVs. Competition to design the MMOPVs is likely to come from the major European shipbuilders ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, DCNS, BVT and Royal Schelde although the ships will be built at a South African yard to a standard modular hull.


Other programmes Other South American navies are also increasing their patrol boat fleets and replacing ageing vessels. On 15 October 2008, Chile’s government-owned shipyard Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada (ASMAR) launched the second of four patrulleros de zona maritime (PZM) OPVs under the Chilean Navy’s Danubio IV project. The 1,850ton boats are


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destined to patrol Chile’s extensive Pacific and Antarctic waters providing protection in the EEZ and a SAR capability. The 80m loa PZMs are powered by Wärtsilä engines to give a speed of 20kt and a range of 8,600nm. Armaments consist of a 40mm naval gun and machines guns. The ships can support a 322C Cougar helicopter and two 7m rigid inflatable boats (RIB). Te first ship Piloto Pardo was commissioned in June 2008 with the second ship, Policarpo Toro, due to handover in early 2009. Te Argentine Navy has a requirement for 80m OPVs under its Patrulleros de


requirement for OPVs similar to those being acquired by Chile and Argentina but funding problems have kept procurement plans on hold. In September 2006 the Brazilian Navy ordered two NAPA 500-class vessels based on the Vigilante 400 CL 54 design from French shipbuilder CMN Group. Displacing 477tons the ships are being built locally at Brazil’s INACE (Industria Naval do Ceara SA) yard at Fortaleza and are due for delivery in 2009. A further four OPVs have been approved, with a total of eight ships planned. Like South America, both Australian


and New Zealand have a requirement for endurance OPVs that can patrol large swathes of oceanic territory. Whilst the Royal Australian Navy completed the acquisition of 12 Armidale-class patrol boats (designed to protect natural resources on Australia’s North West Shelf) in 2007, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is still waiting to commission two OPVs under its delayed Project Protector programme. The two 85m


Three patrol vessels being built by BVT for the Royal Navy of Oman, equipped with a substantial set of weapons for sea control and war-fighting (credit: BVT Surface Fleet).


Ship & Boat International March/April 2009


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