The second Tunisian Navy Multi Service Offshore Patrol Vessel 1400 (MSOPV 1400) Syphax (P 611) series have been commissioned alongside a third istiklal-class patrol boat at the port of La Goulette on 25 June.
Syphax (P 611) is the second MSOPV 1400 class from an order of four units, the first boat Jugurtha delivered in early March.
Both vessels were constructed froma shipyard in Galati, Romania.
The lead vessel Jugurtha began its journey in early March and arrived at its destination at the Tunisian naval base of Bizerte on 9 March, according to Automatic Identification System (AIS) data.
The new OPVs were designed with a SeaAxe hullform and it is understood that Damen is building these ships in pairs. Steel-cutting for the first two– Jugurtha and Syphax – started on 13 December 2016.
Two other offshore patrol vessels (Hannon and Sophonisbe) will be built for the Tunisian Navy, with all four scheduled for delivery by the end of 2018.
Multi Service Offshore Patrol Vessel 1400 (MSOPV 1400)
The MSOPV has a compact design with two sea boats and a extendable helicopter hangar. Also it is fitted with lights and visual aids for day and night operations, Avcat re-and de-fuelling system and a stern slipways in operation.
According to Damen, It takes less than a minute to disembark rigid inflatable boats.
Damen Multi Service Offshore Patrol Vessel 1400 (MSOPV) Specifications
Length (meter) 72
Speed max (kts) 20.5
Crew 35
Beam (m) 12.7
Propulsion 4×1765 kW, CPP
Endurance: 25 days