Work on the new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for the Belgian Navy, the future BNS Vega, is progressing well at the Socarenam shipyard in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
The warship is expected to be launched in March this year ahead of fitting out and sea trials, with a view to delivery in 2027.
As per a Belgian Armed Forces press statement, “Vega will contribute to the protection of Belgian interests, particularly in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), especially around the energy island, wind farms, submarine cables, and gas pipelines. It will also participate in search and rescue operations.”
The new ship will operate alongside the Belgian navy’s two existing OPVs, Castor and Pollux, also built more than a decade ago at the Socarenam shipyard.
Its director Mathieu Gobert commented: “We often say that we build the ships of the future in the workshops of the past. We have several decades of experience with this range of vessels. For the Vega, we are incorporating ten years of improvements and technological developments.”
The new vessel will be an updated version of her sister vessels, and will feature a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. She will also be equipped with a new anti-roll system utilising water tanks and bulkheads to provide enhanced stability.
- You can read more details on the Belgian Armed Forces website