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Montenegrin Navy Receives First OPV 60M from KERSHIP
Confirmed
In Short: French shipbuilder KERSHIP has launched the first OPV 60M patrol vessel, Petar Njegoš I, for the Montenegrin Navy, marking a significant milestone in the country's maritime security capabilities.
French shipbuilder KERSHIP has launched the first OPV 60M patrol vessel, Petar Njegoš I, for the Montenegrin Navy at its Lanester shipyard, strengthening bilateral defense ties between France and Montenegro.
The launch of the Petar Njegoš I comes less than two years after the contract was signed between the Montenegrin Ministry of Defence and KERSHIP, with the vessel set for delivery in April 2027.
Throughout the programme, a team from the Montenegrin Navy, supported by the DGA, is monitoring the construction alongside the French industrial teams, ensuring that the vessels fully meet the operational requirements of the Montenegrin Navy.
Marie Eugénie Cotelle, President of KERSHIP, stated that the next major milestone in the programme will be the delivery of the Petar Njegoš I to the Montenegrin Navy in April 2027, while the second vessel, Petar Njegoš II, is scheduled to be launched during the first quarter of 2027.
The new patrol vessels will enable the Montenegrin Navy to perform a broad range of military and civilian missions, including maritime surveillance, protection of strategic infrastructure, border control, counter-piracy and counter-trafficking operations, search and rescue, pollution response, humanitarian assistance, and the deployment of Special Forces.
With these two OPV 60M vessels, Montenegro is significantly strengthening the capabilities of its Navy and its contribution to maritime security missions.
What's confirmed
- French shipbuilder KERSHIP has launched the first OPV 60M patrol vessel, Petar Njegoš I, for the Montenegrin Navy at its Lanester shipyard, strengthening bilateral defense ties between France and Montenegro.
- The launch of the Petar Njegoš I comes less than two years after the contract was signed between the Montenegrin Ministry of Defence and KERSHIP, with the vessel set for delivery in April 2027.
- Throughout the programme, a team from the Montenegrin Navy, supported by the DGA, is monitoring the construction alongside the French industrial teams, ensuring that the vessels fully meet the operational requirements of the Montenegrin Navy.
- Marie Eugénie Cotelle, President of KERSHIP, stated that the next major milestone in the programme will be the delivery of the Petar Njegoš I to the Montenegrin Navy in April 2027, while the second vessel, Petar Njegoš II, is scheduled to be launched during the first quarter of 2027.
- The new patrol vessels will enable the Montenegrin Navy to perform a broad range of military and civilian missions, including maritime surveillance, protection of strategic infrastructure, border control, counter-piracy and counter-trafficking operations, search and rescue, pollution response, humanitarian assistance, and the deployment of Special Forces.
- With these two OPV 60M vessels, Montenegro is significantly strengthening the capabilities of its Navy and its contribution to maritime security missions.
What's still developing
- P203 and P204 are two offshore patrol vessels built by Turkey's Dearsan Shipyard for the Nigerian Navy under a contract signed on November 3, 2021.
- The Nigerian Navy began the procurement process in August 2021, and then-President Muhammadu Buhari approved the contract that followed.
- Dearsan's original concept imagery showed an SH-60 Seahawk on the deck, but Oryx assessed that the Nigerian Navy's AW109 helicopters were the more likely users.
- In Turkey, Nigerian Navy personnel have been receiving instruction in the Abramak IP-based integrated communication system, which is to be installed on both vessels.
- This program confirms the suitability of the OPV 60M, designed by PIRIOU and ordered by Montenegro to KERSHIP.
- Dragan Krapović, Minister of Defence of Montenegro, Ms Dubravka Lalovic, Ambassador of Montenegro in France, Ms Cécile Humbert-Bouvet, Ambassador of France in Montenegro, as well as representatives of the French and Montenegrin authorities, local elected officials and the French Defence Procurement Agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement – DGA).
- The first OPV will now undergo further outfitting and trials before being delivered to the Montenegrin Navy in April 2027.