Norwegian Intelligence Service’s surveillance vessel christened

Norwegian Prime Minister Mrs. Erna Solberg has named the Norwegian Intelligence Service’s new surveillance vessel as Marjata at the Vard’s shipbuilding unit.

Built as part of a contract awarded by the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation in 2011, the new vessel will be equipped to execute surveillance activity in the Barents Sea and the High North.

Norwegian Intelligence Service director Kjell Grandhagen said: "The naming of Marjata is an important milestone in the process towards the vessel entering into operative service in 2016.

"The new Marjata will be an important element in the continuation of the Norwegian Intelligence Service’s mission in the High North, and represents a modern resource which will contribute to secure Norway’s information needs for the next 30 years."

Claimed to be one of the most technologically advanced of its kind world-wide, the new surveillance craft scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2015, and is set for commissioning in 2016.

The new vessel, which had been built at Vard Tulcea in Romania and being furnished at Vard Langsten, will replace a precursor by the same name, also constructed by Vard Langsten and currently operational since 1995.