Turkey's Dearsan Shipyard has completed conducting the initial sea trials of the second of two new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) that the company is building for the Nigerian Navy.
The OPV has a steel hull, an aluminium superstructure, a length of 76 metres, a beam of 11 metres, a displacement of 1,100 tonnes, a top speed of 28 knots, and space for up to 43 crewmembers. Armament will include 76mm and 40mm naval guns, four 12.7mm machine guns with two on stabilised weapon mounts, and surface-to-air missiles.
The vessel will also be fitted with air and surface search radars, a fire control radar, an electro-optical sensor, and chaff/decoy dispensers. Power will be provided by four MAN diesel engines driving controllable-pitch propellers.
The OPV will be used for missions such as anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance, interdiction, naval gunfire support, search and rescue, counter-piracy and counter-drug trafficking patrols, special operations support, disaster relief, and fisheries enforcement.
The Nigerian Navy expects to take delivery of both OPVs from Dearsan within this year.