“NIANI”, the second of the three offshore patrol vessels ordered by Senegal has just been launched
On Monday 12 September 2022, the “NIANI”, the second ocean-going patrol vessel for the Senegalese Navy, whose first, the “WALO”, was launched in April 2022, was launched in Concarneau (29).
As a reminder, a contract had been signed in November 2019 by the Ministry of the Armed Forces of Senegal and the PIRIOU Group, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Senegal and the French ministerial delegation, for the supply of three ocean-going patrol boats.
The construction programme for these three patrol boats, carried out with the support and expertise of its subsidiary KERSHIP, is expected to last 44 months, until the summer of 2024, and also includes a support period of several years in Senegal.
In parallel, the first unit is being fitted out at the quayside before the start of its sea trials and the third is also being fitted out before its launch.
Vincent Faujour, Chairman of PIRIOU Group said: “It is an important event for this boat but also more broadly for the OPV58S programme! Thanks to the motivation of the PIRIOU and KERSHIP personnel and the continuous working partnership with the representatives of the Senegalese Naval Staff, we are progressing according to schedule.”
OPV 58 S : a 62 m offshore patrol vessel
The OPV 58 S (Offshore Patrol Vessel) is a robust 62 m patrol vessel with outstanding versatility and high endurance. The OPV 58 S is dedicated to missions such as surveillance, identification and intervention, and fulfils the entire range of missions related to law enforcement. In addition to her deployment ability -intervention RHIBs- she possesses a first rank deterrence capacity thanks to her anti-surface and anti-aircraft weapon systems.
Among innovations and major capacities, the vessel features:
- A versatile design to adapt to various missions
- A large panoramic bridge with 360° visibility
- A fast launching and recovery system for 2 RHIBs on the stern ramp
- A C-Sharp® hull for optimized autonomy and seakeeping
- A high-performance monitoring and combat system
These OPVs will be equipped with MARTE MK2/N anti-ship missiles. With the ability to strike at ranges in excess of 30 kilometres and their fire-and-forget capability, these missiles will provide the means to the Senegalese Navy to enforce their maritime superiority. The vessels will also benefit from the SIMBAD-RC system and its MISTRAL missiles- this combination providing an extremely effective defence capability against all threats including anti-ship missiles, combat aircraft, UAVs, helicopters, as well as small surface threats such as those presented by FIACs. These missiles and missile systems are designed and produced by MBDA
Main characteristics:
| Length overall 62.2 m Breadth 9.5 m Draught (approx.) 3 m Speed 21 kn Range 21 days, 4500 NM @ à 12 kn Hull/superstructure steel / aluminium | Accommodation 48 including crew 24 including special personnel 24 Intervention 2 RHIBs on stern ramps Container capacity 2 x 20 |
by Pascaline Odoubourou
