PIRIOU, DCNS Awarded BSAH Contract

The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has selected the joint PIRIOU, DCNS and KERSHIP tender for the supply of four Offshore Support and Assistance Vessels (BSAH*) to the French Navy and for the associated maintenance.

KERSHIP, a joint company created by the two naval partners, will ensure the management of this programme, which includes a firm order for two vessels and an option for two further vessels.

PIRIOU will ensure the design and construction of these vessels, characterized by a high degree of versatility and autonomy of 30 days. DCNS, in its capacity as a co-contractor for military design studies, will supply the on-board communications systems and will be responsible for the Through-Life Support (TLS) over a period of up to 5 years.

This contract covers the design and construction of 70-metre vessels with a fully-laden displacement of about 2,600 tons, for a planned delivery in 2018 for the two units of the firm tranche and in 2019 for the following two units. The French Navy intends to use the BSAHs for the deployment of forces for State action at sea.

The diversity of missions led to the proposal of a Supply Vessel-type ship with a towing capacity of 80 tons, a speed of 14 knots and significant autonomy of about 30 days of operation without refuelling. The vessels will be equipped with an 8-metre working boat and semi-rigid boats as well as a crane allowing the embarkation and disembarkation of containers, and can also accommodate divers, transport weapons and ammunition, provide support to a submarine during stopover, and deploy an anti-pollution barrier.

*BSAH = Bâtiments de Soutien et d’Assistance Hauturiers
(Offshore support and assistance vessels)

Image: DCNS