Gift Wada
The Federal Government on Friday launched the second 76meter High Endurance (HE) Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) built for the Nigerian Navy (NN) in DEARSAN Shipyard Turkey.
The vessel was launched by the First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu and it marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding her territorial waters and combating maritime threats.
Recall, the first OPV built by DEARSAN Shipyard was launched on 26 October 2023. The launch was graced by the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammed Matawalle, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the Charge D’Affair Nigerian Embassy Turkey, Ambassador Zayyad Habu Abdulsalam and other dignitaries.
Speaking at the event, V Adm EI Ogalla noted that the construction of the 2 × OPVs commenced in 2022.
He said, “DEARSAN Shipyard is constructing 2 OPVs for the NN and the first OPV was launched here on 26 October 2023. I am particularly pleased that the milestones on the vessel construction have been met and I hereby appreciate the management of DEARSAN Shipyard for their efforts so far”.
The general specifications of the newly launched OPV are as follows:
Length- 76.90m Width- 11.90m Draught- 3.60m Speed – 28knots
Propulsion System – Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD), Range – 2500nm Endurance – 16 days, Crew Capacity -47.
The construction of the vessel is expected to boost NN fleet renewal efforts for fulfilment of her constitutional mandate and ensure maximum presence at sea to curb illicit acts such as oil theft, piracy, sea robbery, illegal fishery as wel as smugglingof Small Arms and Light Weapons among other crimes in the vast 84,000sqnm of Nigeria’s maritime environment.
It will also facilitate harnessing the enormous potentials within Nigeria’s maritime domain in support of F’a Blue Economy initiatives.
The CNS commended the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his support towards ensuring the completion of the construction of the O P s and his commitment to NN fleet renewal aspirations.