Nigel Stewart, Commercial Director, BAE Systems’
Naval Ships business, said: “We’re looking forward to building
and strengthening our relationship with Thailand’s shipbuilding
industry. This contract to support delivery of a second Offshore Patrol
Vessel to the Royal Thai Navy is a clear endorsement of our versatile
Offshore Patrol Vessel design.
"With three of these ships already in service in Brazil and a further
three Offshore Patrol Vessels under construction for the UK Royal Navy,
our design continues to attract significant interest internationally."
The Offshore Patrol Vessel is a highly versatile ship, making it
a cost-effective solution for many navies, with options for us to
construct vessels at our facilities in Glasgow, Scotland, or for international
customers to build ships under licenced design agreements using their
own indigenous industries.
The Royal Thai Navy accepted its first 90 metre Offshore Patrol Vessel,
HTMS KRABI, from Bangkok Dock in 2013, which is a variant of the baseline
BAE Systems design. HTMS KRABI has already completed around 1000 days
at sea with the Royal Thai Navy. BAE Systems delivered three Offshore
Patrol Vessels built in the UK to the Brazilian Navy from 2013 to
2014.
We are also constructing three Offshore Patrol Vessels for the UK
Royal Navy at our facilities in Glasgow, Scotland. The ships are of
the same baseline design, with modifications to meet UK Royal Navy
requirements. The UK Government committed to buy two further Offshore
Patrol Vessels in its recent Strategic Defence and Security Review.
The Offshore Patrol Vessel is designed for management of economic
exclusion zones and the provision of effective disaster relief, with
the range and capability for ocean patrol and deployment anywhere
in the world. The design is based on the proven pedigree of the 80
metre River Class vessels operated by the UK Royal Navy since 2003.
Good sea-keeping, speed and fuel economy have been improved further
by the lengthened hull of the 90m variant, while the rugged commercial
components in the ship systems are suited to high annual operating
hours and rapid repair.
The design can be modified for either naval or coast guard needs,
including options for a hangar, alternative combat systems, boats
and internal compartments, such as additional aft accommodation. The
ship’s capacity for Special Forces deployment, pollution control,
operation of remotely operated underwater vehicles to provide mine
countermeasures and carriage of standard containers add to the versatility
of the design. The optional commonality with UK Royal Navy command
systems provides significant potential for minimising future obsolescence
as well as providing scope for training in the UK.
