Norway Coast Guard receives Jan Mayen class OPV KV Bjørnøya.

According to information published by the Norwegian Navy on November 1, 2023, the Norwegian Coast Guard has officially received the Jan Mayen class OPV KV Bjørnøya. Fisheries and Ocean Minister Cecilie Myrseth officiated the christening at the Vard Langsten shipyard.
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Jan Mayen class Offshore patrol vessel Jan Mayen. (Picture source: Vard)

Last year, the Coast Guard completed over three thousand missions, including nearly seven hundred in support of police operations and an equal number for the Norwegian Coastal Administration.

The Jan Mayen class, to which KV "Bjørnøya" belongs, boasts excellent seafaring capabilities, capable of operating independently at sea for up to eight weeks without refueling or resupply.

The three new Coast Guard vessels, KV "Jan Mayen," KV "Bjørnøya," and KV "Hopen," represent one of the largest defense acquisitions in the maritime sector in Norway. These ships, built by Vard Group with a budget of NOK 7.2 billion, will replace the Navy's three Nordkapp-class vessels constructed in the 1980s. The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency is responsible for the acquisition.

Upon receipt of all the new vessels, the Norwegian Coast Guard will have a fleet of 15 ships. The Coast Guard's headquarters and leadership are based in Sortland in Vesterålen, home to a Coast Guard base since 1982.

Staffed by approximately 900 conscripts, apprentices, specialists, officers, and civilian employees, the Coast Guard operates year-round to protect Norway's interests along the coastline and in Norwegian maritime areas.

About the class

The Jan Mayen class offshore patrol vessels are a new addition to the Norwegian Coast Guard, set to replace the older Nordkapp class and are being acquired through the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency. With a plan to deliver them between 2022 and 2024.

At 136.4 meters in length and a displacement of 9,612 tons, these ships are built to be at sea for eight weeks without resupply, showcasing their significant range and sustainability.

Equipped to maneuver in polar conditions, they are classified with a polar class 6 rating, indicating their capability to operate amidst young ice mixed with older, thicker ice. The hulls, crafted at Vard Group's Romanian facilities, are then towed to Tomrefjord for outfitting, testing, and completion.

The Jan Mayen class is equipped with navigation and sensor systems, including an active, hull-mounted, retractable sonar from Kongsberg Maritime, primarily intended for anti-submarine warfare.

The ships are engineered with diesel-electric propulsion and are capable of reaching speeds up to 23 knots. Their armaments include a Bofors 40 mm gun and a KDA RWS 12.7 mm machine gun, with Hensoldt's TRS-3D radar and Saab's 9LV FCS fire control system complementing their advanced sensor suite.