Israel Shipyards started construction of the first OPV-45 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) ordered by Ivory Coast.
“Construction of the OPV-45, the first of two patrol vessels to be delivered to an African Navy in the next two years,” has begun, Israel Shipyards said on December 16. Israel Shipyards announced the order in July, but the relevant information about the client state was not shared. It was stated that the vessels were designed to provide “protection against the increasing threat of piracy in the region” and that the country that gave the order was a navy operating in the Gulf of Guinea. Towards the end of July, Africa Intelligence reported that OPVs were ordered by Ivory Coast.
OPV-45 Patrol Vessel
OPV-45 with a length of 45.7 m, a width of 8.6 m and a draft of 2.4 m has a payload capacity of 300 tons. Featuring two MAN 6V 175D-MM diesel engines, the OPV-45 provides a combined power of 2,960 kW at 1,960 rpm for a maximum speed of 24 kt. It has a range of 3,500 miles at 12 kt. With a crew capacity of 40 people, OPV-45 can load two 20 ft shipping containers onto the boat with a deck crane. In addition, a 7 m long rigid hull inflatable boat can be launched from a stern ramp. OPV-45 Patrol Vessel, with its various configurations, is designed to perform various missions. Also, Israel Shipyards said the vessels would be equipped with Israeli-made day / night-vision systems to maximize their effectiveness on a mission. It was also announced that the boats would be equipped with stabilized weapons. Additionally, the agreement includes the establishment of a maintenance program, as well as support and training for crew and technical personnel.
