OCEA delivers first of 10 new patrol boats to Algerian Navy

French shipbuilder OCEA has delivered the first unit of an order for 10 32-metre fast patrol boats (FPBs) in a series to the Algerian Navy.

Named El Safi, the vessel left OCEA’s shipyard at Les Sables d’Olonne in mid-February and will arrive in Algeria within the month.

This is the first delivery under the second 32-metre FPB contract between OCEA and Algeria following an earlier order for 21 vessels that were delivered between 2008 and 2012.

Like its sisters, El Safi has a crew of 14, a maximum speed of 35 knots, a range of 1,200 nautical miles, and a 30-millimetre cannon.

The FPB also has the ability to launch and recover one rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) via its stern.