Croatia launched its first inshore patrol vessel in the construction hall of the Brodosplit shipyard in Split on June 3.
This is the first of a planned five patrol vessels that will be built for the Croatian Coast Guard under a HRK 385,4 million (approx. US$58.5m) contract signed between the Croatian ministry of defense and Brodosplit in December 2014.
The keel for the 43,5-meter vessel was laid in September 2015.
The June 3 launching ceremony was attended by the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov and State Secretary for Defence Zdravko Jakop.
It will take another two months of outfitting before the vessel is ready to start its builder’s trials. Once underway, in-port and navigation tests will be monitored by the Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Register of Shipping.
Following the delivery of the vessel to the Croatian Navy, it will undergo special prototype tests in the Adriatic Sea (to test the navigability and suitability of technical solutions and prototype characteristics).
The completion of the testing is expected by late 2017, when the vessel will be officially named and delivered to the Navy.
According to Brodosplit, the vessel will be equipped with a 30mm automatic cannon, two 12,7mm machine guns and four man-portable air-defense systems. Crewed by 14 sailors, it will be capable of reaching speeds of 28 knots and staying at sea for 10 days. It will also carry a rigid hull inflatable boat that will accommodate 6 crew.