Navantia Simultaneously Laid the Keel of Two New BAM type OPVs for the Spanish Navy

: Posted On Tuesday, 03 May 2016 10:20

Naval Defense News - Spain

Navantia Simultaneously Laid the Keel of Two New BAM type OPVs for the Spanish Navy

Navantia held on April 29 keel laying ceremonies of the two BAM (Buque de Acción Marítima) OPV for the Spanish Ministry of Defense. Both milestones have taken place at 12 pm simultaneously in the shipyards of San Fernando and Ferrol. These are the 5th and 6th vessel respectively. It is planned that the launching of both ships will be held in the first half of 2017.

Spanish Navy P-41 BAM (Buque de Acción Marítima) Meteoro
(Picture: Navantia)

The order of execution of the extension of the BAM program was signed in December 2014 and marks the return of Navantia military contracting with the Spanish Armada, after more than 8 years.

This contract represents 2.2 million working hours for both own staff and for the auxiliary industry. During the construction period about 1,350 direct and indirect jobs. Of these, more than 250 would be direct employees of Navantia and more than 1,050 employees of sub-contractors.

The ship is moderately-sized with a total length of between 90 and 95 m. and displacement of 2400-2500 tons, a small crew and a high level of habitability. It is a high performance ship with great versatility regarding missions, enjoys a high level of system commonality with other Spanish Navy ships and has low acquisition and life cycle costs.

Her main missions are:
- Protection and escort of other ships
- Control of maritime traffic
- Control and neutralisation of terrorist actions and piracy
- Operations against drug trafficking and the traffic in persons
- Maritime rescue and salvage operations
- Crisis situation support and humanitarian assistance
- Control of fishing legislation
- Control of environmental and anti-pollution legislation