The French Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects; DGDDI) has initiated a tender process for the selection of a manufacturer of a new class of four patrol boats.
The selected bidder will be awarded a contract for the construction of the boats, each of which must have a maximum length of just under 35 metres, a beam of less than 10 metres, space for 14 crewmembers, a top speed of 22 knots, and a range of 1,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 18 knots.
The vessels will be larger than many of the existing patrol boats in the DGDDI fleet. The agency said larger vessels are more suitable for long-range and extended-duration patrols, thus making the vessels ideal for counter-narcotics trafficking operations.
The greater dimensions will also permit the transport of a seven- to eight-metre long semi-rigid boat that can carry six customs crewmembers and reach speeds in excess of 40 knots.
The contract for the four new customs patrol boats has a total value of approximately €32 million (US$34 million).