Keel laying ceremony for the first Nigerian Navy's 76 M OPV.

According to information published by Dearsan Shipyard on September 16, 2022, the keel laying ceremony for the two 76m Offshore Patrol Vessels manufactured by Dearsan Shipyard for the Nigerian Navy was held in Tuzla.
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Keel laying ceremony for the future Nigerian Navy's 76m Offshore Patrol Vessel. (Picture source: Dearsan Shipyard)

The keel laying ceremony comes about 10 months after the Nigerian Navy (NN) signed a contract with Dearsan Shipyard to build two units of the 76m Offshore Patrol Vessel, specifically on November 3, 2021.

The vessels will be capable of conducting search and rescue, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, and anti-drug operations, as well as disaster relief and other operations.

They will be deployed to project naval power within the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), contribute significantly to the development of global maritime trade, deter oil theft, and provide safe seas for the exploration and exploitation of Nigeria's marine and hydrocarbon resources.

They will have a length of 76.80 m, a beam of 11 m, a draft of 2.90 m, and a displacement of 1100 tons. They will be able to carry 43 sailors and reach a top speed of 28 knots.

The OPVs will be armed with 76 mm Leonardo Super Rapid Gun, 40 mm Leonardo Light Naval Gun, two 12.7 mm Stabilized Automatic Machine Guns, two 12.7 mm Manual Use Machine Guns, and two by two SAM SIMBAD RC (MBDA).