The “CAYOR”, the third offshore patrol vessels ordered by Senegal has just been launched
On Tuesday 02 May 2023, the “CAYOR”, the third offshore patrol vessels for the Senegalese Navy, was launched in Concarneau (29).
After the WALO and NIANI, this is the last unit of the OPV58S programme, the contract for which was signed in November 2019 by the Senegalese Ministry of the Armed Forces 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 offshore patrol vessels.
The construction programme for these three offshore patrol vessels, carried out with the support and expertise of its joint venture KERSHIP, will last 44 months, until the summer of 2024, and also includes a support period of several years in Senegal.
Once again thanking the Senegalese authorities for their confidence, Vincent FAUJOUR, Chairman of the PIRIOU Group, also paid tribute to “the teams working on this major project”. “Together we are fully mobilised to continue to ensure the smooth running of this programme, which will have an important meeting in a few weeks’ time!
Indeed, the first of the three offshore patrol vessels will soon be officially delivered to the Senegalese Navy.
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
