The offshore patrol vessel (OPV) 'ARC 20 de Julio' has been delivered to the Colombian Navy, representing a significant milestone for the country's shipbuilding industry.
The delivery marks Colombia's entry to the exclusive group of Latin American nations building their own sea warfare vessels, also comprising Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Chile. Constructed by the Science and Technology Corporation of Naval, Maritime and Riverine Industry Development (Cotecmar), the vessel is the biggest and most complex ship ever built in Colombian history, at a value of 130 billion pesos (US$70 million).
Construction project of 'ARC 20 de Julio' began in March 2009 and involved over 2,500 direct and indirect employees. Cotecmar has already started the construction process of the second OPV, which shall go into service by December 2013. The second generation of OPVs will be outfitted with sensors and weapons that will increase their security capability.
