VESSEL REVIEW | Esperance – Israeli yard supplies new patrol vessel to Ivorian military

The Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire has taken delivery of the first of two new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) in a series built by Israel Shipyards at its facilities in Haifa.

Named Esperance, the vessel is a slightly smaller development of the 1980s-era Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boats built by Israel Shipyards for the Israeli Navy. The builder said key modifications were incorporated into the base Sa'ar 4.5 design with the aim of equipping the OPV with firepower approaching that of a larger naval ship but at less cost.

The vessel has an LOA of 45.7 metres, a beam of 8.6 metres, a displacement of approximately 300 tonnes, and accommodations for 16 crewmembers. Two MAN 16V175D-MM engines each rated 2,960 kW at 1,900 rpm drive MAN Alpha fixed-pitch propellers to deliver a maximum speed of 24 knots and a range of over 3,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12 knots.

Space is also available for mission-specific modules housed in two 20-foot ISO containers, a 7.2-metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB) for use in at-sea interceptions and boardings, and an automated launch and recovery system for use with the RIB. The armament meanwhile includes 12.7mm machine guns and a stabilised 30mm naval gun. Day/night observation systems are also fitted.

Esperance will be operated primarily in the Gulf of Guinea, where it will undertake missions including patrol, surveillance, counter-terrorism, interdiction, search and rescue, fisheries enforcement, pollution response, and protection of critical installations. Under an agreement with the Ivorian government, Israel Shipyards will also be responsible for maintenance support and training of crews of both Esperance and its yet unnamed sister vessel.

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