• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Damen Offshore Patrol Vessels

Offshore Patrol Vessels are specifically developed for a wide variety of tasks in regions where there is low-level violence. Flexible mission modules and modular manning concepts make anything possible. The main task of the vessel will be fishery and environmental protection, assistance in operations, search and rescue and limited towing and fire fighting. Humanitarioan assistance can be provided where required. Boarding of fishing vessels will be carried out from the vessels RIB. Oil spills will be countered with infaltable booms and a surface skimmer. The vessel will carry dispersant, pumping and spray equipment. The vessel will be operational in and beyond the South African Exclusive Economic Zone, in the prevailing climatic conditions.

Damen offers a choice in deployment of the boarding boats from either a side shell recess with a davit, or from a stern slipway with visor door. More than 25 Damenbuilt patrol vessels of various sizes have a stern slipway in operation. Even the mid-size OPV 1400 offers space for both a side recess and a stern slipway for RIB boats up to 9m length. All OPV types feature low-freeboard recesses on either side to facilitate recovery of survivors, divers and boarding team transfers onto boats. Damen OPVs can accommodate an organic helicopter up to the 10 ton-class, such as the Sea King and NH-90. A flight deck and hangar space with adjacent service spaces and flight control facilities are provided.

Damen has a rich tradition in naval shipbuilding with navy roots stemming back 135 years. Damen Shipyards Group is known worldwide for its quality shipbuilding, both in the naval and commercial sector. The Offshore Patrol Vessel being a fairly new concept, Damen Shipyards Group has quickly become one of the worlds most prolific designer/builder of OPVs. By the end of 2012 fourteen Damen designed OPVs of various sizes were in service, with three more on order. Most were built by Damen Shipyards, while some builds were in progress through Transfer-of-Technology programs, under supervision by Damen Technical Cooperation.

The OPV series is designed in-house and model tested in close cooperation with leading institutes. This ensures that the vessels have very good seakeeping behaviour and that they can reach maximum speeds. They are therefore capable of performing the most challenging tasks to the optimum. Damen OPV’s are fitted with high-quality commercial-grade interiors. Control and service spaces provide effective places of work, finished in hard-wearing materials. Accommodation spaces provide a place of rest and relaxation for all on board, while being easy to maintain. Damen Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV s) have been specifically developed for navies and coastguards for a wide variety of tasks and for regions with a low level of threat. These vessels range from 1,000 to 3,750 ton displacement.

Type	Tonnage (tons)	Length o.a. (m)	Speed max (kts)	Crew (persons)	Multi-role space area (m2)
	3750	108	22	50	130
Offshore Patrol Vessel 3750
	2600	98	24	58	320
Offshore Patrol Vessel 2600
	2400	90	22	58	220
Offshore Patrol Vessel 2400
	1850	83	22	58	190
Offshore Patrol Vessel 1800
	1400	72	20	45	130
Offshore Patrol Vessel 1400
	950	62	20	30	29
Offshore Patrol Vessel 950
	850	68	30	30	0
Fast Offshore Patrol Vessel 850