Austal’s proposal for the Philippine Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel Acquisition Project on display at Pacific 2019. (IHS Markit/Ridzwan Rahmat)
Australian shipbuilder Austal has unveiled its proposal for the Philippine Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Acquisition Project.
A model of this proposal is being showcased at the Pacific 2019 International Maritime Exposition, which runs from 8 to 10 October in Sydney, Australia.
The OPV Acquisition Project is one of the programmes that have been identified as a priority under Horizon 2 of the Philippine Navy’s component in the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Programme (RAFPMP).
The country has a requirement for an initial batch of six ships, and an acquisition sum of PHP30 billion (USD577 million) was approved by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in June 2018.
Negotiations for a government-to-government contract are in progress, with Canberra looking at the possibility of funding the procurement via Export Finance Australia, said an Austal representative who spoke to Jane’s at Pacific 2019.
According to information provided by Austal, its proposal, which derives its design from the Cape-class patrol vessel, has an overall length of 83.4 m, an overall moulded beam of 13.3 m, and a hull draft of 4 m. To augment its interdiction capabilities, the OPV can embark up to two 7 m rigid-hull inflatable boats via davits located on the port and starboard sides.
Powered by two Caterpillar C280-16 engines driving two fixed-pitch propellers via two Reintjes LAF 5465 SISO gearboxes, the OPV can reach a top speed of 22 kt at 85% of maximum continuous rating (MCR) and attain ranges in excess of 3,500 n miles at 12 kt.
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