Norway is Enhancing its Coast Guard

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Norway has been upgrading its offshore security capabilities. The Norwegian military will be equipped with three new coast guard vessels from Vard Langsten in the first quarters of  2022, 2023 and 2024. VARD, a global designer and shipbuilder of specialized vessels headquartered in Norway, has secured a $610m contract for the construction of three coast guard vessels for the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (NDMA).

The new series of tailor-made vessels will replace the Nordkapp-class coast guard vessels. Developed for worldwide operations, these vessels can be operated in all weather and sea conditions, both inshore and offshore. Designed to withstand operations in demanding Arctic areas, the new coast guard vessels will have ice-strengthened hull and ice-class notation.

The vessels, with a length of 136m and a beam of 22m, can be used for long-distance transits, search-and-rescue operations, surveillance, etc.

The Government of Norway had initially announced plans for building three new vessels in September 2016. After reviewing the offers from three competing yards, NDMA chose Vard Langsten to continue negotiations in October 2017. The Norwegian Parliament approved the investments in June this year and the final negotiations were completed and finalized in the next few weeks.

VARD worked in cooperation with LMG Marin to develop the concept design further so that requirements by NDMA with regard to sustainability, life cycle cost and reliability are met.

NDMA director general Mette Sørfonden said: “Due to national security interests, the Norwegian Government decided that the competition should be restricted to Norwegian yards only. “Vard Group with its Vard Langsten yard was the provider that overall satisfied the defined requirements for solution and the Navy and the Coast Guard’s needs in the best manner.”

The hulls will be constructed at Vard Tulcea in Romania, according to homelandsecurity-technology.com.