Port of Spain on builders trials departing Portsmouth on 13 February 2010 |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | BAE Systems Surface Ships |
| Operators: | Brazilian Navy |
| Building: | 0 |
| Planned: | 3 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Offshore Patrol Vessel |
| Displacement: | 2000 tons full load |
| Length: | 296.9ft (90.5metres) |
| Beam: | 44.3ft (13.5metres) |
| Draught: | 11.5ft (3.5metres) |
| Propulsion: | 2 MAN 16RK 280 Diesels, 2 shafts (25+ knots) |
| Complement: | 34 plus 5 trainees |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: | None (Landing facilities for one medium helicopter) |
| Aviation facilities: | 20 meter flight deck |
| Notes: | Similar to UK River class OPV's |
The Port of Spain class are three Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) built by VT Shipbuilding (now BAE Systems Surface Ships). The ships will enter service with the Brazilian Navy during 2012 and 2013.
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The vessels are based on the Royal Navy's River class and are 90m long, have 60 man crews and achieved a top speed of 25 knots on sea trials.[2] They are designed to perform a range of Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) management, special operations and maritime law enforcement tasks.
The first vessel was named Port of Spain at her launch, at BAE Systems Surface Ships’ Portsmouth facility, on 18 November 2009.
The second was named Scarborough on her launch a day later at Scotstoun in Glasgow, and began sea trials in July 2010, reaching 25.38 knots.[2]
The third was named San Fernando when launched on 16 July 2010 at Scotstoun on the River Clyde.[3]
The Port of Spain class were originally built for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. Then, despite two of the vessels having been completed at the time and awaiting delivery, and with crew training ongoing in the UK,[2] the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) cancelled the order in September 2010.
In December 2011 it was reported that the Brazilian Navy were interested in buying the vessels, and possibly up to five additional vessels of the same design.[4] The sale, for £133 million, was then confirmed on 2nd January 2012. [5]