VESSEL REVIEW | RV96 – Long-endurance patrol boat delivered to Finnish Border Guard

The Finnish Border Guard has taken delivery of the sixth vessel in a new series of patrol boats built by local shipyard Tyovene.

RV96 belongs to a series of seven vessels that were developed with longer endurance and improved day/night capability compared to the older patrol boats in the border guard fleet. Duties include maritime safety enforcement, search and rescue (SAR), light towing, and environmental protection in nearly all weather conditions.

The newbuild has an aluminium hull, a length of 20 metres, a beam of five metres, and a displacement of 48 tonnes. Liveaboard spaces that include berths and a galley/mess will allow an eight-strong crew to stay out at sea for extended periods, though regular sailings will see the vessel operated by only three to five border guard personnel. The wheelhouse offers all-round visibility and is spacious enough to accommodate more people compared to the older border guard boats, providing additional opportunities for crew training.

The hull is capable of breaking through surface ice up to 20 centimetres thick, enabling the vessel to operate safely during periods of mild winter weather. Two main engines driving propellers deliver a maximum speed of 24 knots.

The vessel's notable features include a stern launch and recovery ramp for a one-person watercraft that will aid in SAR missions, a radar that can also detect oil spills in the water, another radar for use when navigating through ice, a rotating thermal camera, and specialised equipment for the transport, deployment, and storage of spill containment booms.

RV96 will be operated by the border guard out of its station at Porkkala on the country's southern coast.