Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | December 28 – Russian and Pakistani submarines, Belgian and Lithuanian patrol boats and more

Deliveries include patrol boats to the Port of Antwerp and the Lithuanian border guard and a corvette for Qatar. A new French Navy support ship is undergoing sea trials and a Russian submarine is launched into the water for the first time. Lastly, construction is underway on two locally-built submarines for Pakistan.

Hybrid patrol boats to serve Port of Antwerp-Bruges

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium has begun operating two new patrol boats supplied by the Kooiman Marine Group of the Netherlands.

POA 1 and POA 2 will be used for port inspection and security duties. Each vessel has a hybrid propulsion system consisting of a battery pack with shore charging capability and two Helseth propellers.

The boats can sail on hybrid, full electric, or conventional operating modes.

Lithuanian Border Guard welcomes new patrol vessel to fleet

The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service recently took delivery of a new patrol vessel built by Baltic Workboats of Estonia.

The vessel has been named Gintaras Zagunis after the first Lithuanian border guard officer to be killed in the line of duty after the country regained its independence in 1990.

The boat has an LOA of 25 metres, space for eight crewmembers, and a launch and recovery ramp for a small rigid inflatable boat. Two MTU engines will deliver a top speed of 26 knots.

Gintaras Zagunis will be used for patrols, surveillance, and search and rescue in Lithuanian territorial waters. It may also be called upon to assist in joint maritime operations with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

Qatari Emiri Navy takes delivery of third Doha-class corvette

The Qatari Emiri Navy took delivery of its third Doha-class corvette following completion at the facilities of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.

The future QENS Al Khor has a length of 107 metres, a beam of 14.7 metres, space for 112 crewmembers, and a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion system that delivers a maximum speed of 28 knots. There are also storage and launch facilities for rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) and a flight deck and hangar for accommodating one NH90 utility helicopter.

Missions will include surface combat, sea surveillance, escort, general patrol, interdiction, and search and rescue.

Sea trials begin for future French Navy support ship

French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique has begun conducting sea trials of the lead vessel of a new logistic support ship (LSS) class ordered by the French Navy.

Named after a renowned naval engineer and nuclear propulsion specialist, the future Jacques Chevallier underwent testing of several of its onboard systems. Additional trials will be conducted prior to the ship’s scheduled hand-over in 2023.

Once in service, the LSS will be used for the transport of marine and aviation fuel, fresh water, ammunition, food, and spare parts in support of deployed naval task forces. Peacetime missions will include humanitarian assistance and disaster response through the provision of a modular onboard hospital, electrical power generation equipment, and equipment for supplying potable water.

Russia’s newest Lada-class submarine hits the water

Russia’s Admiralty Shipyards has floated out the future Velikiye Luki, a Project 677 diesel-electric attack submarine ordered by the Russian Navy.

The submarine, which is named after a town in Western Russia, is the third to be built under Project 677, alternatively known as the Lada-class. Missions will include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, protection of naval bases, and reconnaissance.

The future Velikiye Luki will join its two earlier sister boats in the Russian Northern Fleet headquartered in Severomorsk.

Construction underway on two indigenously-built submarines for Pakistan Navy

The Pakistan Navy has confirmed that construction has commenced on two submarines of the eight-strong Hangor-class.

The keel of the future PNS Tasnim was recently laid at the facilities of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) while the first steel for another boat was cut on the same day.

These two submarines and another two will be the only four boats of the Hangor-class to be built in Pakistan. The remaining four submarines, including class lead boat PNS Hangor, are under various stages of construction at China Shipbuilding Trading Company’s facilities near Shanghai.