Cotecmar Signs Cooperation Agreements with Guatemala to Build Riverine Boats.

According to information published by Cotecmar on September 28, 2024, Colombian shipbuilding company Cotecmar has announced the signing of two technical-military cooperation agreements with Guatemala's Ministry of Defense. The project includes training and capacity-building programs for Guatemalan personnel on the operation and maintenance of the vessels. Additionally, Cotecmar will carry out repair and maintenance work on the logistics and humanitarian support vessel BL-1601 Quetzal.
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CEO of Cotecmar, Luis Fernando Marquez and the Guatemalan Ministry of Defense, Henry Saenz Ramos. (Picture source: Cotecmar)

BOFBC

The BOFBC is a boat designed with an aluminum hull reinforced with ballistic materials. It is built for conducting military operations in secondary and tertiary river environments. The vessel can transport up to five passengers and carry a cargo load of 400 kilograms. It uses outboard propulsion, which allows it to navigate in shallow waters, with additional protection for the underside of the propeller.

The boat's dimensions are as follows: it has a total length of 8.68 meters, a beam of 2.42 meters, a depth of 1.03 meters, and a design draft of 0.48 meters. It has a design displacement of 3.73 tons.

The BOFBC can reach a maximum speed of 24 knots and has an operational range of 300 kilometers. It is designed to carry a crew of four, along with the capacity for five passengers and additional cargo. It is powered by two Mercury 90-horsepower four-stroke engines, providing a combined power output of 180 horsepower, and is equipped with a hydraulic steering system. The boat's radiated noise level is 110 dB.

The electrical system includes three 75Ah batteries at 12VDC. For navigation and communication, it is equipped with a marine VHF radio, a Ritchie SS-1002 magnetic compass, a Furuno GP-39 GPS, navigation lights, and a searchlight.

Armament consists of two M240B machine guns mounted at the stern and one M2HB machine gun mounted at the bow. The armored areas include protection for the sides of the hull above the waterline and shields for the mounted weapons.

Multipurpose landing craft Quetzal (BL 1601)

The Quetzal is a multipurpose landing craft has a full displacement of 660 tons and measures 45.8 meters in length, with a beam of 11.0 meters and a draught of 1.50 meters, enabling operations in shallow waters. The vessel is powered by two Caterpillar C148 diesel engines, each producing 1,100 horsepower, which drive twin shafts to achieve a maximum speed of 12 knots.

The landing craft runs on diesel fuel, though its endurance in terms of nautical miles or specific speeds is unspecified. It is capable of carrying a military load of up to 210 tons, making it suitable for transporting troops, vehicles, or other cargo. The vessel is unarmed, focusing instead on transport and logistical roles.

Equipped with Furuno radar for navigation and situational awareness, the Quetzal requires a complement of 12 personnel to operate effectively.