VESSEL REVIEW | Osprey – Fast patrol boat for UK Ministry of Defence Police

UK builder the Marine Specialised Technology Group (MST Group) has completed construction of a new high-speed patrol craft slated for the UK Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) and the Gibraltar Ministry of Defence Police (GDP).

The vessel, named Osprey, is the first of a planned series of 18 composite-hulled patrol craft that will be built over a period of six years for various police units around the UK and Gibraltar. Design work on the boats is provided by naval architecture firm BMT while construction of the hulls and the superstructures is being undertaken by Norco Composites and GRP.

All 18 patrol craft will be used to ensure protection of major Royal Navy assets including capital ships and submarines, as well as installations in and around UK dockyard ports, Gibraltar Naval Base, and wherever else necessary.

Osprey measures 15 metres long and is powered by twin inboard diesel engines driving waterjets to deliver speeds of up to 30 knots. The wheelhouse has a fully integrated C4ISR and craft management system and shock-mitigating seats for the crew. The electronics suite includes a Furuno radar and a rotating thermal camera.

A notable feature is the handrail arrangement, which is configured to enable safe transits along the open deck as well as transfers to and from other vessels during boardings and inspections. The handrails are placed just outside the wheelhouse exterior instead of on the outer deck perimeter so that transfers can be performed via any point on the deck, ensuring improved operational flexibility.

The wheelhouse itself has forward-angled windscreens to reduce glare.