VARD to build three coast guard vessels for Norway

VARD has secured a NOK5bn ($610m) contract for the construction of three coast guard vessels for the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA).

The Government of Norway had initially announced plans for building three new vessels in September 2016.

After reviewing the offers from three competing yards, NDMA chose Vard Langsten to continue negotiations in October 2017.

The Norwegian Parliament approved the investments in June this year and the final negotiations were completed and finalised in the next few weeks.

VARD CEO and executive director Roy Reite said: “Our longstanding experience in the design and shipbuilding of highly specialised vessels has been of vital importance in the competition and development of this project.

“Our strength lies in recognizing and understanding the customer’s and the market’s needs, and introducing innovative solutions based on the vessel’s objective, services, operative window and geographical scope. We have worked hard to achieve this contract and are excited to be awarded.”

The new series of tailor-made vessels will replace the Nordkapp-class coast guard vessels. Developed for worldwide operations, these vessels can be operated in all weather and sea conditions, both inshore and offshore.

Designed to withstand operations in demanding Arctic areas, the new coast guard vessels will have ice-strengthened hull and ice-class notation.

The vessels, with a length of 136m and a beam of 22m, can be used for long-distance transits, search-and-rescue operations, surveillance, and oil recovery.

The offer by company was based on the reference design developed by LMG Marin for NDMA.

VARD worked in cooperation with LMG Marin to develop the concept design further so that requirements by NDMA with regard to sustainability, life cycle cost and reliability are met.

NDMA director general Mette Sørfonden said: “Due to national security interests, the Norwegian Government decided that the competition should be restricted to Norwegian yards only.

“Vard Group with its Vard Langsten yard was the provider that overall satisfied the defined requirements for solution and the Navy and the Coast Guard’s needs in the best manner.”

The three vessels will be delivered from Vard Langsten in Norway in the first quarters of  2022, 2023 and 2024. The hulls will be constructed at Vard Tulcea in Romania.