Singapore Launches First New Offshore Patrol Vessel

SINGAPORE, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Singapore has launched the first of a new class of offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) designed to respond to a range of maritime security incidents and meet the growing demands of wider maritime security operations.

The Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) first OPV, Sentinel, was launched at the Fassmer shipyard in Berne, Germany.

The Defence Ministry (Mindef) said the OPVs were designed to meet increased demands and a broader scope of maritime security operations, with calibrated capabilities enabling them to respond to a range of incidents in a measured and proportionate manner.

"Inheriting the missions of the Sentinel-class Maritime Security and Response Vessels (MSRVs), the OPVs provide flexibility to fulfil maritime security operations and protect Singapore’s territorial waters,” it said in a statement on Friday.

The ministry said the OPVs would interoperate with vessels from other government agencies such as the Police Coast Guard and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore for a range of maritime security missions.

The ministry said Sentinel would undergo a series of platform acceptance and sea trials to validate the ship’s systems and performance prior to departure for Singapore.

"The launch of Sentinel is testament to the strong and substantive defence ties between Singapore and Germany," it said.

-- BERNAMA