As 2011 came to a close, Brazil’s buy of 3 in-stock Offshore Patrol
Vessels from BAE, with an option to license-build 5 more, has the
potential to cast wide ripples.
Brazil has very extensive coastal responsibilities, a sizable Marine
Corps, and a Navy whose frigates are either British designs, or former
British ships. That navy is expanding, as Brazil moves to protect key
assets like its deep-water oil production, but British shipbuilders will
face stiff competition. Other key Brazilian suppliers like France’s
DCNS will be bidding, alongside naval shipbuilders around the world. The
OPV purchase is certainly another piece of the naval puzzle for Brazil,
alongside its
future submarines. Is it also another piece of the puzzle for BAE?
The Ships
Port of Spain, trials
(click to view full)
The Port of Spain Class is an enlarged offshoot of the River Class OPVs built for Britain’s Royal Navy. A similar design was
sold to the Thai Navy, and is being built by Bangkok Dock.
The first of the ships was built at BAE Systems’ Portsmouth facility
on the English Channel, while the 2nd and 3rd vessels were built at the
yard at Scotstoun on the Clyde River, in Scotland. Key statistics
include:
Length overall: 90.5m
Breadth moulded: 13.5m
Draught: 3.5m
Displacement: 1,800t/ 2,200t fully loaded – corvete sized
Propulsion: 2×7,350 kW diesels, driving 2×3.1 m Wartsalia propellers
Speed: 25+ knots
Range at 12 knots: 5,500+ nm
Endurance: 35 days
Nominal crew: 60. Can operate with 36, accommodate up to 70.
Deck capacity: 1 helicopter up to 7t; 6×20 foot ISO containers
Other features include:
- Terma Scanter 4100 X-band radar
- Ultra Electronics OSIRIS combat & surveillance system
- 30mm remotely-operated weapons station up front, and 2×25mm cannons port and starboard.
- Modern communications, command and control system system
- Ability to conduct sea boardings using onboard RIB and Fast Interceptor Craft
- Accommodation for 50 fully equipped troops
- Ability to conduct helicopter operations
- Ample deck space for the transport of containers and additional craft
- 16t capacity crane on board, with 14m reach
- Ability to replenish at sea
The 90m Offshore Patrol Vessels were originally part of a GBP 150
million Vosper Thornycroft Group contract with Trinidad & Tobago,
and were scheduled for delivery in mid-2009. BAE eventually acquired VT
Group’s shipbuilding, and the first 2 ships would have been delivered in
October 2010, but the customer canceled the contract. They were docked
at BAE facilities, awaiting a buyer as BAE pursued negotiated and legal
options with Trinidad & Tobago, and explored international re-sale.
That eventually materialized at the end of 2011, with a sale of all 3
ships to Brazil, plus license-build options for up to 5 more ships in a
manner similar to the Thai deal.
Trinidad & Tobago’s own territorial waters didn’t require all of
these capabilities, but long-reaching drug interdiction patrols within
the Caribbean did. Brazil will be using the boats for a different
purpose, but the vessels’ endurance and seakeeping will come in very
handy when patrolling the deep-water zones around its key offshore oil
sites.
Contracts & Key Events
T&T Negotiations
(click for video)
Jan 2/12: BAE officially announces a GBP 133
million (currently $206 million) sale of the 3 Port of Spain Class OPVs
to Brazil, along with and ancillary support services and the rights to
license-build additional ships of class. The exact number is not
mentioned clearly, despite earlier reports of 5 ships. Brazilian Navy
Director of Naval Engineering, Rear Admiral Francisco Deiana, did add
that:
“This procurement does not change the scope of our PROSUPER
programme for the acquisition of future ships which also includes a
further five Ocean Patrol Vessels of c.1,800 tonnes to be constructed in
Brazil.”
Port of Spain and Scarborough are expected to be delivered with
little delay, while San Fernando will reportedly need to be fitted out
with the rest of her equipment before she can be delivered. BAE Systems
Maritime Managing Director, Andrew Davies, expressed his hope that “this
will be the start of a long term partnership with Brazil in the
maritime sector.” BAE would certainly like customer satisfaction at the
accelerated delivery, and close cooperation in building more OPVs, to
translate into a edge for their Type 26 frigates, as Brazil moves to
re-equip its surface fleet (vid. Sept 14/10 entry). See also the BBC
report’s analysis, which is interesting:
“For naval shipbuilding in Britain (and that’s almost all there
is left), it carries a sombre warning – that the skills being sought by
BAE Systems’ customers are not in construction but in design…. The
intention is to make the design adaptable to different requirements and
different budgets for weapons systems, in contrast with past Royal Navy
designs…. If successful, it means orders for BAE Systems, and jobs for
designers and project managers, but it doesn’t look so good for shipyard
workers on the Clyde or Portsmouth.”
Dec 11/11: According to the Brazilian newspaper
ALIDE, Brazil’s navy may be about to buy the Port of Spain Class, plus
the option to build another 5 under license. Technical aspects have
reportedly been settled, leaving political-industrial issues such as
industrial offsets and financing.
Navy Recognition.
Aug 3/11: BAE Systems moves the 3 ships to
Portsmouth, and is attempting to persuade the government of Trinidad
& Tobago to allow resale, instead of facing the International Court
of Arbitration.
The Sultan of Brunei lost a similar 2006 ICA case to BAE, involving
the 95m Nakhoda Ragam Class corvettes. The Sultan had to pay BAE, and
ended up selling the corvettes to Algeria at a loss, before
replacing the corvettes with another order from Germany’s Lurssen Werft: 3 smaller Darussalam Class OPVs.
CNC3 TV [video]
Sept 22/10: Trinidad & Tobago cancels the
contract for the Port of Spain class. BAE dsays they will attempt to
negotiate a settlement. If that fails, international arbitration is
likely.
UK’s Telegraph.
Sept 14/10: The UK and Brazilian Governments sign a Defence Cooperation Agreement, with
BAE touting
its Type 26 future frigates as part of a larger co-operation package
that would equip Brazil’s navy. The Port of Spain Class is part of that
mix:
“In the near term, BAE Systems believes that its 90 metre Ocean
Patrol Vessel will prove an attractive option to the Brazilian Navy.
With full blue water capability, it can undertake surveillance and
deterrence of oil and gas installations in Brazil’s territorial waters
as well as more general maritime security and search and rescue
operations. The design is based on the proven River Class vessels in use
with the UK Royal Navy and uses the same core platform as the vessels
BAE Systems has built for the Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard, with
systems and equipment tailored to the Brazilian Navy’s requirements. The
company already has a similar technology transfer agreement in place
with Bangkok Dock in Thailand, which is building one vessel of this
class for the Royal Thai Navy.”
Sept 7/10: Scarborough, the 2nd of 3 Port of Spain
Class OPVs for the T&T Coast Guard, has successfully completed sea
trials off the west coast of Scotland, and is on track to be delivered
in October 2010.
BAE Systems.
July 16/10: The 3rd Port of Spain Class OPV, San
Fernando, is launched at 0400, due to the early high tides on the Clyde
River in the summer months.
BAE Systems.
Nov 18-19/09: The 1st OPV is formally named Port of
Spain, then the 2nd ship is launched and named Scarborough, at the BVT
Surface Fleet facility on the Clyde river, in Scotland. Port of Spain is
Trinidad’s capital. Scarborough is Tobago’s capital.
The two 90m Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Trinidad and Tobago
Coast Guard are part of a £150 million contract to build, integrate,
test and commission (up to sea trials) three ships for the Government of
the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Under the program, BAE is also
providing training and a 5-year in-service support package, while the UK
Ministry of Defence is providing advice to the Government of the
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and operational sea training to the
Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard crews.
BAE Systems.
October 29/09: BAE buys VT’s shipbuilding business, but the purchase agreement’s value is reduced a bit because of ongoing issues and delays involving the Port of Spain Class.
June 28/07: Ultra Electronics
announces that the Port of Spain Class will use its OSIRIS combat system.
“Ultra’s OSIRIS system integrates the surface and air
surveillance radars together with an advanced electro-optical
surveillance capability in order to enhance the crew’s situational
awareness. The OSIRIS system also provides the vessel’s command and
control and gun fire control capability [noted as a 30mm gun and 2×25mm
guns).
Ultra has worked closely with VT over several years to
develop jointly a version of OSIRIS optimised for the Trinidad and
Tobago vessels. The system will be integrated and delivered by Ultra’s
Command & Control Systems business in partnership with radar
specialist Terma A/S of Denmark and Ultra’s SML Technologies business.”
April 2007: VT Shipbuilding signs a deal with
Trinidad & Tobago to build, integrate, test and commission up to sea
trials, 3 of their 90-meter Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago’s Coast Guard.
The program includes training and a 5 year in-service support
package, while the UK Ministry of Defence is providing advice to the
Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and operational sea
training to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard crews. The Port of Spain
Class are scheduled for delivery in mid-2009.
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