Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | September 1 – Patrol boats for the North Sea and Minnesota, a future US Navy aircraft carrier and more

New patrol boats have been delivered to operators in Denmark and the US. Construction is well underway on the US Navy’s newest aircraft carrier while a German builder unveils a new warship design. Two US companies have teamed up to introduce a new range of unmanned vessels for defence and other government applications.

Danish Fisheries Agency takes delivery of locally-built patrol boat

The Danish Fisheries Agency has taken delivery of a new patrol vessel for operation in the North Sea and the Skagerrak.

The 64-metre-long Nordsøen (“North Sea”) was built by local company Hvide Sande Shipyard, Steel, and Service. Its secondary missions will include search and rescue (SAR).

Accommodations are available for 14 crewmembers though the vessel may be operated by only nine personnel.

The vessel also has space for unmanned vehicles to be used for fisheries monitoring missions.

New patrol boat to be operated in Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park

Alabama-based Silver Ships recently handed over a new patrol boat to the National Park Service.

The 23-foot (seven-metre) vessel will be operated in Voyageurs National Park located in Minnesota bordering Canada, where it will perform SAR and other emergency response missions.

Power is provided by two Mercury outboards that deliver speeds of up to 37 knots. Also fitted are Garmin electronics, a lockable weapon stowage, and a personnel bow gate to facilitate debarkation and embarkation when beaching and going ashore.

German builder proposes new corvette design

German Naval Yards Kiel has commenced development work on a new design of 96-metre-long corvette capable of a full range of naval operations.

Each ship in the class will be fitted with a 3D radar and weapon systems and sensors dedicated to anti-air and anti-surface warfare. An innovative slender bow section will enhance seakeeping and efficiency while the topside and superstructure will be of modular design and have a reduced radar cross-section.

Two diesel engines driving controllable-pitch propellers will enable each corvette to reach a maximum speed of 28 knots or sail for up to 4,000 nautical miles.

Keel laid for future US Navy aircraft carrier Enterprise

The Newport News Shipbuilding division of US naval shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has laid the keel of the third US Navy aircraft carrier to be named USS Enterprise.

The third Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its sisters are slated to replace the US Navy’s Nimitz-class carriers. HII said that each Ford-class ship will feature a new nuclear power plant, a redesigned island, electromagnetic catapults, improved weapons movement, an enhanced flight deck to support increased operational efficiency, and growth margin for future technologies.

HII said that approximately 17.5 tons (15.8 tonnes) of steel that was used in the hull and the superstructure of the second USS Enterprise will also be used in the new carrier.

Partnership to develop new unmanned vessels for US Navy, other users

Shipbuilder Austal USA and unmanned systems company Saildrone have formed a strategic partnership to build autonomous uncrewed surface vehicles.

The partnership’s aim is to provide the US Navy and other government customers with unmanned solutions for maritime domain awareness, hydrographic surveys, and other missions requiring persistent wide area coverage.

Among the first unmanned vessels to be developed by the partnership is a 65-foot (20-metre) long craft designed specifically for deep ocean mapping and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) applications, both above and below the surface. The craft was developed and designed by Saildrone and examples will be manufactured exclusively by Austal USA at its facilities in Mobile, Alabama.