PORT of Spain, the first of three Offshore Patrol Vessels built by Hampshire’s BAE Systems for the Trinidad & Tobago coastguard has completed her final sea trials this week.
The 90-metre vessel, the first of three on order, was built at the former VT group works in Portsmouth and is to be handed over to her new owners within a fortnight.
The original contract for the vessels was agreed with VT Group but the company combined its shipbuilding business with BAE’s in 2008, and BAE took control of the venture last year.
The 90 metre vessels can remain at sea for 35 days, with a maximum speed of 25.8 knots and will be used for a range of Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) management tasks, from tackling drug smuggling to helping with disaster relief in the region. Under the agreement, BAE Systems will provide training and a five year in-service support package to the Trinidad & Tobago Coastguard after it takes delivery of the vessels, while the UK Ministry of Defence will provide sea training to the crews before returning to the Caribbean.
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