Article Posted on : - May 19, 2014

A Navantia photo.

FERROL (BNS): The Spanish Government has awarded a contract to domestic shipbuilder Navantia for building two new Maritime Actions Ships (BAMs) for the Spanish Navy.

The new offshore patrol vessels will join the four Navantia-built Meteoro class BAMs already operational in the Spanish Navy.

Each OPV will have a length between 90 and 95 m. and a maximum displacement of 2,490 tons. It can reach a top speed of 20.5 knots.

The primary mission of these ships will be controlling the Exclusive Maritime Zone (EEZ) and protection against asymmetric threats and conventional small entity. Other missions will be monitoring, salvage, or pollution and smuggling.

They will also have the capacity to operate an airborne helicopter.

The construction period of the two vessels, which will take place in Puerto Real / San Fernando and Ferrol, will be approximately 30 months, Navantia said.