Romanian Border Police receives its first Damen FCS 4008 Patrol vessel.

According to information published by Digi24 on August 22, 2022, the newest maritime patrol vessel that will become part of the Romanian Border Police was launched at Damen Shipyards in Antalya.
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First Romanian Damen FCS 4008 Patrol vessel, Antalya. (Picture source: Romanian Border Police)

Named Damen FCS 4008 PATROL, the vessel has the following technical-tactical characteristics: execution of operational missions of up to 3 days on a Douglas sea scale of 5; the possibility to maintain data and information link with the command and control center as well as with other vessels; a crew of 28 persons and a maximum survivable capacity (aft deck) of 80 persons.

The vessel has a length of 42.95 m, an overall width of 8.65 m, a maximum draught of 3.05 m, a minimum range of 600 nautical miles, and a tonnage of 300 tons. She can reach a top speed of 30 knots.

The Romanian Border Police has a contract for another such vessel, to be delivered by the end of the year. The two vessels will be used for border patrol missions, search and rescue operations, and other specific maritime border control and surveillance activities.

The purchase contract was concluded on 10 March 2021 between the General Inspectorate of Border Police and Damen Shipyards Gorinchem B.V. Netherlands, with a total value of €26 million (129,944,250 lei excluding VAT).

The funding is provided under a project accessing non-reimbursable European funds through the Internal Security Fund. The patrol vessels are to become part of the Romanian Border Police by 30 November 2022.

The aim of the European project, implemented by the General Inspectorate of Border Police since March 2018, is to increase the Romanian Border Police's naval fleet. Within this project, in addition to the two maritime patrol vessels (CPV - Coastal Patrol Vessel), five high-speed intervention vessels (CPB - Coastal Patrol Boat) have already been purchased and have been in operation of the Romanian Border Police since February.

In the context of the management of the migration phenomenon at the external borders of the EU, the acquisition of maritime surveillance vessels is opportune for the fulfilment of the commitments of the Romanian Border Police undertaken with the Frontex Agency, regarding the deployment of technical equipment in joint operations at the external maritime border of the European Union.

The Romanian Border Police manages 2,070 km of the EU external border, of which 225 km are at the Black Sea. Through the operation of the vessels in the fleet, an efficient surveillance system is created, whose continuity in time and space ensures permanent coverage of a maritime area of approx. 20,000 square km (inland maritime waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone).