Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | October 14 – Australian and Pakistani patrol vessels, Polish frigates and minehunting AUVs, Indian Navy dive boats

Newly launched naval vessels include an Australian patrol boat and two Indian diving support vessels that are also capable of rescuing submarine crews. Construction is underway on two patrol vessels for Pakistan as Poland places orders for unmanned craft to be used with a new class of minesweepers. Finally, the UK and Polish governments have agreed to collaborate on the acquisition of future multi-role frigates.

Royal Australian Navy’s fourth Evolved Cape-class patrol boat floated out

Austal Australia has launched the future ADV Cape Capricorn, the fourth Evolved Cape-class patrol boat ordered by the Royal Australian Navy.

The vessel is built for sustained operations lasting a maximum of 28 days or covering a range of 4,000 nautical miles in conditions up to Sea State Four. Deck space will also be available for two small response tenders to conduct at-sea boardings and interceptions.

The vessel’s standard armament will include two pintle-mounted 12.7-millimetre machine guns.

UK, Polish defence ministries ink agreement on frigate acquisition

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak have entered into a framework agreement regarding collaboration on Poland’s procurement and operation of three new frigates.

The ships will be variants of the UK-designed Type 31 frigate, which will be known in UK Royal Navy service as the Inspiration-class. Missions will include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, and mine countermeasures.

Design work on the frigates will be provided by Babcock International.

Construction underway on future diving support vessels for Indian Navy

Hindustan Shipyard (HSL) has launched two new diving support vessels (DSVs) slated for the Indian Navy.

The 118-metre-long vessels will perform missions including search and rescue (SAR) and extended patrols.

The vessels will also be equipped for rescuing crews of distressed submarines even while these are underwater.

Norwegian AUVs to expand Polish Navy’s minehunting capability

Norwegian unmanned systems manufacturer Kongsberg Maritime and a Polish shipyard have entered into an agreement for the supply of new autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to be deployed aboard the Polish Navy’s Kormoran II-class mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels.

Each of the unmanned craft will be fitted with sensors such as a synthetic aperture sonar, a forward-looking sonar, a multibeam echosounder, an ultra high-definition colour camera, and an international navigation system.

The AUVs will be delivered over the next four years to coincide with the MCM vessels’ official entry into service.

Keel laid for lead ship of new patrol vessel class for Pakistan Navy

Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania laid the keel of the lead ship of a new series of 26-metre offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Pakistan Navy on Wednesday, October 12.

The keel-laying of the first new OPV was held during a joint ceremony that also saw the cutting of the first steel for the second vessel in the series.

The OPVs will also be used for counter-piracy and search and rescue missions within Pakistan’s exclusive economic zone.