Turkey's Dearsan Shipyard has floated out the second of two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) that the company is building for the Nigerian Navy.
Once completed, the OPV will have a steel hull, an aluminium superstructure, a length of 76 metres, a beam of 11 metres, a displacement of 1,100 tonnes, and a crew complement of 43.
Armament will include 76mm and 40mm naval guns, four 12.7mm machine guns including two on stabilised weapon mounts, and surface-to-air missiles. The vessel will also be fitted with air and surface search radars, a fire control radar, an electro-optical sensor, and chaff/decoy dispensers.
Four MAN diesel engines will drive controllable-pitch propellers to deliver a top speed of 28 knots and a range of 3,000 nautical miles.
The OPV will be used for missions such as anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance, interdiction, naval gunfire support, search and rescue, counter-piracy and counter-drug trafficking patrols, special operations support, disaster relief, and fisheries enforcement.
