Finnish shipbuilding company Meyer Turku has started the construction of Finnish Border Guard’s second patrol vessel.
As disclosed, the start of production ceremony was held at the Baltic Operator shipyard in Gdansk on December 3, with the traditional cutting of the ship’s first steel plate.
The Finnish Border Guard’s operational capacity in the open sea is, for a significant part, based on the continuous operation and preparedness of the multifunctional offshore patrol vessels.
The offshore patrol vessels are at sea for approximately 330 days of the year, according to Meyer Turku.
Currently, the Finnish Border Guard has three operating offshore patrol vessels, of which the offshore patrol vessel Turva, introduced in 2014, is up-to-date.
Preparations are made for giving up the two old offshore patrol vessels when the new vessels are completed.
The operational capacity of the Finnish Border Guard’s vessels that currently are under construction is better compared to the old vessels, the company noted. Their abilities to monitor and respond in border surveillance tasks and in control and protection of territorial integrity will be improved.
Furthermore, advanced surveillance systems and solutions for data transfer are said to improve the maintenance of real-time surveillance information and sharing of it. All the vessels have an immediate readiness to control serious environmental accidents.
The new ships will produce low emissions and are energy-efficient. Capabilities funded by the Defense Forces will be acquired for the vessels.
To remind, in March this year, Meyer Turku held a keel-laying ceremony for Finnish Border Guard’s new patrol vessel.
The first new vessel will be completed by the end of 2025, in accordance with the contract, and the second by the end of 2026.