Nautic Africa has handed over two 17 metre Sentinel fast patrol vessels to the Nigerian Navy where they will be used for offshore patrol and escort duties.
The vessels, handed over on May 10, were built specially for the Nigerian Navy (NN), which will use them for general patrolling duties and the escorting of vessels.
Nautic Africa pointed out that the Nigerian coast is one of the areas on the African West Coast affected by piracy and as such, the area is regarded as ‘high risk’.
“The Nigerian Navy already has eight other fast patrol vessels in its fleet but the addition of these two state-of-the-art vessels has given the Navy the added confidence of knowing it has the assets it needs to protect its coastline,” the Cape Town based company said.
The 17 metre Sentinel vessel is comprised of a wheelhouse, with seating for five people, a technical space for equipment and storage, accommodation for six people, including bunks, galley and head facilities, and an engine room.
The main propulsion system is comprised of two MTU 8V 2000 M84L diesel engines each driving a ZF 665A reduction gearbox connected to a MSA Marine Systems surface piecing tunnel propeller. The engines are rated at 895 kW each. The range of the vessel is approximately four hundred nautical miles. The high speed planning craft are suitable for sea or river operations.
Nautic Africa has also provided a complete maritime solution to the Nigerian Navy by providing modern, fast patrol vessels as well as training, maintenance, crewing and 24/7 lifecycle support.
The company has delivered numerous vessels to Nigerian operators, including its OPS series of crew/cargo transport vessels to oil and gas clients.
On April 2 this year Nautic Africa hosted a keel laying ceremony for two 35 metre Sentinel for a Nigerian based company. The new vessels will assist in the protection of Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas resources.
In July last year the company said it had received orders for seven of its new 35 metre Fast Multi-Role Patrol Vessels from West African customers, and was already constructing two of them. The orders resulted from the company’s collaboration with West African navies, as well as oil and gas companies, to develop an effective way of counteracting illegal fishing, piracy and other illicit offshore activities, Nautic Africa said in a statement.
They will utilise the South African-developed Nautic ‘Super Shield’ Ballistic Protection system and will be sold with a multitude of role capabilities, key being the Nautic Fast Deployable Interceptors (FDI), vessels known as Guardians.
Via: http://www.defenceweb.co.za
