Mexican Navy has launched their seventh Tenochtitlan-class patrol vessel ARM Tulum (PC-337) during a ceremony held at the Navy’s Astimar 1 yard in Tampico on February 11.
The latest addition to the fleet will have the task of conducting surveillance operations, interdiction, search and rescue operations and combating illegal activities at sea in the Mexican maritime zones.
All of the 42-meter Tenochtitlan-class patrol boats are based on the Damen Stan Patrol 4207 design. Damen provides the engineering, material package, technical assistance and crew training while the Astimar yard builds the boats.
In January 2016, the Mexican Navy signed a contract with the Dutch ship-builder/designer Damen for another three Tenochtitlan vessels. The latest contract will, according to Damen, bring the total number of vessels to ten.
The Communication and Transport Sector Program 2013-2018 for the Mexican naval and merchant industry envisions to build a total of 20 of these ships.
The vessels are 42.80 meters long and 7.11 meters wide. They displace 239 tons and reach speeds of 25 knots. According to the Mexican Navy, the 18-crew vessels can stay on patrol for 14 days before they have to return to the port.
The launching ceremony for ARM Tulum was chaired by Admiral Vidal Francisco Soberon Sanz, Mexican Secretary of the Navy, and Lorena Cruz President of the National Women’s Institute, who was the ship’s sponsor.
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