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2015-10-01

OPVs PROVIDE CONSTANT DEFENCE

The rise in global demand for offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) can be partly attributed to increased maritime activity, such as illegal offshore fishing and asset protection, while the market has also being bolstered by recent events, including the disappearance of flight MH370 and the Mediterranean migrant crisis.

The many countries in North Africa and Latin America face a maritime threat landscape that is increasing in both severity and diversity. Its coast guards and naval forces currently face a more challenging role than ever before as they maintain the sanctity and safety of their national ports and coastlines. In order to carry out their duties effectively, these maritime forces need to be trained and equipped to the requisite standard that will allow them to overcome the myriad of threats that they are likely to encounter.

Their governments understand the need to procure advanced OPVs that will provide their servicemen with the means to carry out their assigned roles. As such, greater levels of OPV purchasing deals are being signed by their governments with shipbuilding companies across the world in order to fulfil the following objectives.

The countries examined here face many similar threats to their national security and to their economic wellbeing. Piracy and terrorist activities threaten the sanctity of their maritime trade and industry. Smuggling and illicit goods trafficking promotes corruption, social disorder and the growth of the shadow economy. The non-state threats to these countries represent a real and present danger that cannot be ignored.

The growing maritime menace being experienced in the region has led to a significant expansion of the respective countries’ navies through purchasing of OPVs. Not only are the frigates, corvettes and smaller attack and patrol craft capable of carrying out vessel interdiction missions to quell piracy and smuggling, they are also suited to supporting their surface fleets in conventional naval combat, should the need arise.

The civil uprisings in Egypt and Algeria in recent years have demonstrated that the region – while it is currently stabilising – is no stranger to serious and prolonged conflicts. Therefore, the procurement of OPVs secures two ongoing sources of strategic benefit at once: the heightened security of key port infrastructure and coastal areas, as well as the improved combat capabilities of the national naval forces in question.

Should the current geopolitical landscape continue to feature the same type of threats, the countermeasures offered by advanced OPVs will almost certainly continue to rise in popularity.

Well-armed, strategically capable terrorists and insurgents are operating with greater daring and confidence along the shores of Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Algeria.

Illicit goods and substances are crossing between North Africa and Southern Europe through the porous coastal borders. Interdiction efforts require advanced OPVs with sophisticated sensory equipment.

Many North African and Latin American naval fleets are made up of ageing vessels that are nearing obsolescence.

The latest OPVs offer comprehensive versatility through the use of advanced targeting systems, naval weapons and defensive countermeasures. They provide a constant defence against myriad threats and illegal activities including terrorism, piracy, smuggling, polluting and illegal fishing.

Egypt has one of the largest navies in the Middle East but with 2000km of coastline to protect and an ageing surface fleet that needs to carry out a more complicated and difficult role than ever before, the Egyptian Government has decided to secure a series of significant deals to update and/or replace OPVs in both the Navy and Coast Guard.

One facet of this revised role is the rising severity of the threat posed by Daesh militants in the Sinai region. Most recently, in July 2015 an Egyptian naval vessel was set on fire after being targeted by rocket attacks from the militants, although no fatalities were reported.

Another consideration is the crucial strategic and economic importance of the Suez Canal. Although the canal has undergone a vast development project to widen it in order to accommodate a greater number of vessels much more rapidly, it remains a relatively narrow choke point. This vulnerability, coupled with its ever-increasing importance to Egypt’s economic welfare, make it a prime target for terrorist actions.

Recent OPV purchases

Morocco

Much like Egypt, Morocco has a lengthy coastline to patrol and protect against the many threats to its national security and economy. Cannabis smuggling from Morocco to mainland Spain and elsewhere in southern Europe is of particular interest to the Coast Guard as the size and diversity of illegal consignments continues to rise.

Additionally, key ports such as Casablanca, Tangier and Safi are playing an increasingly vital role in the future of Morocco’s economy, calling for greater levels of investment in OPVs to protect this critical infrastructure from seaborne threats

2009-2014: $1.3 billion – Four Fast Missile Craft (FMC): Designed by VT Halter Marine in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, these advanced FMC were purchased in order to replace some of the Egyptian Navy’s ageing attack craft.

Capable of mounting surface-to-surface missile systems, guided missile launching systems close-in weapon systems and deck mounted 7.62mm M60 machine guns, these versatile attack vessels are designed to support larger OPVs and run vessel interdiction actions.

2014: Approx $200 million – FREMM Frigate: Purchased from DCNS and built in Brest, France, the FREMM frigate designated Tahya Misr arrived in Alexandria in early August 2015, adding to the Egyptian Navy’s OPV strength with its multi-purpose capabilities.

With its Herakles multifunction radar, Aster surface-to-air missiles, MdCN cruise missiles, Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles, MU90 torpedoes and an Otobreda 76 mm gun, a FREMM frigate is capable of conducting anti-air, anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare.

2014-2017: $1.35 billion – Four Gowind Corvettes at $1.3 billion: Also purchased from DCNS, these four Gowind corvettes have the firepower and speed (max speed 25 knots) to aid smaller coast guard craft in interdiction operations against drug trafficking/smuggling vessels as well as effectively contributing in conventional naval warfare.

2008-2012: $816 million – Three SIGMA class frigates: Ordered from Dutch company Damen Schelde Shipbuilding, these three vessels were delivered over the course of four and a half years, significantly expanding the Royal Moroccan Navy’s OPV capabilities.

Equipped with a comprehensive suite of electronic surveillance and tracking systems, the SIGMA frigates have already proved invaluable in vessel interdiction and humanitarian missions.

These systems include: a Smart-S Mk2 surveillance radar, a LIROD Mk 2 tracking radar, a Thales Kingklip sonar system, an IFF system, an integrated communication system comprising external communication system and FOCON internal communication subsystem, two target designation sights, a VIGILE ESM system, a SCORPION ECM system and an integrated navigation system.

2013: $676 million – FREMM frigate: Again, the reasons the versatile FREMM frigate appealed to the Moroccan Navy are similar to those that prompted the Egyptians to purchase one in 2014. With its aft helicopter hangar able to accommodate medium helicopters like the NH90, EH101 and Cougar, the frigate makes for an excellent OPV that is capable of fulfilling conventional naval warfare roles as well as vessel interdiction.

2015: Price undisclosed – Landing Craft Tank (LCT): This 50-metre support vessel, to be built by French shipyard Piriou, has been designed to transport vehicles, cargo, water and fuel as it is fitted with two handling cranes and a bow ramp to allow for speedy loading/unloading onto beaches, docks or other vessels.

Potential Future Purchases: The Moroccan Royal Navy has undergone significant expansion in recent years with the purchases mentioned above. Naval procurement sources still suggest that there is a possibility of one or two submarines being added to its strength, although this has not resulted in any firm tenders being produced in Morocco to date.

It seems more likely, given the scope and scale of its anti-smuggling, drug-trafficking commitments, that more frigates, corvettes and smaller patrol craft will be needed by the coastal kingdom in the coming years.

Algeria

Recent years have seen the Algerian Navy expand significantly as its government aims to crack down on smuggling, illegal migration and indigenous terrorism. These particular threats mostly affect Algeria’s harbours and maritime communication routes as well as ships passing through the Straits of Gibraltar.

Consequently, the need for an advanced, well equipped fleet capable of effectively patrolling the country’s 1000 km of coastline is more pressing than ever before.

2012: Two Tiger class corvettes: Another light and versatile corvette-class vessel, the Tiger corvette is designed for anti-submarine, anti-aircraft and anti-surface vessel combat and it particularly suited for offshore patrolling duties.

At the time Algeria’s surface fleet comprised of only three 1970s-era Koni-class antisubmarine frigates, six corvettes, 22 patrol and coastal combat vessels, three amphibious vessels and three logistics and support ships, making the two advanced Tiger class vessels a welcome addition.

2012-2014: $2.7 billion – Two MEKO A-200 class frigates: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) provided the Algerian Navy with the first of the two frigates in December 2014.

These Algerian variants are equipped with one Oto Melara 127/64 LW medium-calibre gun, provision for up to 32 vertically launched Denel Dynamics Umkhonto-IR point defence missiles with space for up to 16 Saab/Diehl BGT RBS 15 Mk 3 anti-ship missiles, two MSI-Defence 30 mm single guns, four Rheinmetall MASS soft-kill decoy launchers, a Saab Sea Giraffe AMB G-band 3-D surveillance radar, and two Saab CEROS 200 radar/electro-optical trackers.

The Blohm+Voss MEKO® A-200 features the revolutionary CODAG-WARP (water jet and refined propellers) propulsion system: two CPP propeller shafts driven by cross-connectable diesel engines plus a centre-line gas turbine-driven water jet, combining the power of each drive in the water without the need of a combining gearbox.

This arrangement allows for extremely quiet acoustic signatures, a high degree of propulsion redundancy and damage survivability. The propulsion arrangement also provides, in the diesel only mode, an extremely economic solution, whereby a single engine can drive both shafts for a ship speed of 18 knots, meaning that the ship will spend most of its life on a single engine.

Potential Future Purchases: Algeria’s long-term procurement plan for additional naval vessels focuses heavily on an anti-piracy role as the country’s main ports remain of vital economic importance, as does the sanctity of its coastline.

Additionally, Algeria has already demonstrated that it is willing to purchase from a wide variety of shipyards (German, Russian, Pakistani etc) in order to equip the navy with its required craft. Given this context, further OPV purchasing deals seem almost inevitable, with all manner of international vendors open to the opportunities available. Currently, the Algerian Government has the option to purchase two more frigates from TKMS which industry analysts expect to be agreed within the next two years.

Latin America

Argentina: Project PAM (Patrulleros de Alta Mar) for four OPVs of 1,880 tons has been abandoned. Instead, a contract was signed in September 2013 for four, 35 metre patrol craft to be built by Tandanor and Rio Santiago shipyards. The Coast Guard has plans to procure a second-hand 60 metre ship for a Polar Logistics Role.

Brazil: Six Macae Class OPVs were scheduled to be in service by 2015, with 6 more approved, for delivery by 2016, in Phase 1 of the programme. Fifteen more are planned in Phase 2 and 19 in Phase 3 for a total of up to 46.

The NPO 1800 Project is for up to five Navio Patrulha Oceanicos (NPO) of 1,800 Tons. A three-year procurement programme is planned.

Chile: A third OPV 80 Ocean Patrol Vessel, the Marinero Fuentealba, was commissioned by the end of 2014. It joins the Comandante Toro and its sister ship, first-of-class Piloto Pardo, which were built to an 80.6 metre design from German company Fassmer under the $54 million maritime zone patrol vessel programme.

Colombia: Two Fassmer-designed OPV-80’s have been built by Cotecmar, with a contract for a third already signed. There are also plans to build 12 CPV-46 over the coming years.

Ecuador: Plans to acquire one OPV of 1,500 – 1,800 tons.

Mexico: 4 Oaxaca class OPVs are in service with a further 4 vessels possible.

Peru: In mid-September 2013 the Peruvian Navy (MGP) selected an OPV design from South Korea’s STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, and signed an $83 million contract for licensed- production of five vessels at Peru’s SIMA shipyards. They are planned for delivery from mid 2015-2016 and will be operated by the Coast Guard.

In 2012, the MGP announced plans to build 10 500-ton exclusive economic zone patrol vessels at SIMA.

Uruguay: Uruguay reportedly wants to lease 3 OPVs. DCNS may have been selected (unconfirmed). Alternatively, 2 OPVs may be built in a local shipyard, under a license with ENVC of Portugal, based on the Navio de Patrulha Oceanica 2000 design.

Venezuela: Six Stan Patrol 5009 OPVs and 6 Stan Patrol 4207 CPVs ordered at a cost of $302 million. Two more Guauiqueri Class and 2 more Guaicamacuto Class OPVs may be acquired. Four Guaicamacuto Class are currently being procured, with the last due to be commissioned in 2015.

Reference Text:

IQPC Middle East

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