# Morocco orders OPV from Spanish Navantia

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/01/morocco-orders-opv-from-spanish-navantia/
- Published: 2021-01-14T15:47:03+01:00
- Author: Darek Liam

Morocco has awarded a contract to Spanish shipbuilder Navatia to design a new offshore
patrol vessel for the countrys naval force. In an announcement made by the Spanish
shipbuilder in 8 January, the design will be based on the Avante 1400 OPV, a littoral
patrol vessel with a full load displacement of 1,500t and capable of 4,000nm range.

Rabat’s OPV design will be similar to the Buque de Vigilancia de Litoral (BVL) ordered
along with four POVZEE / Avante 2200 Combatants by the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela
back in 2005. The Avante 1400 class OPV can accommodate a crew complement of 35 
sailors, and according to Navatia, will represent one million hours of work for 
the shipyard and 250 jobs over the next three and a half years as design and construction
commences.

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The Kingdom of Morocco first made its intentions regarding its OPV requirement in
April last year, and [announcing the specifications](https://www.military.africa/2021/01/morocco-orders-opv-from-spanish-navantia/military.africa/2020/02/morocco-set-to-purchase-two-two-avante-patrol-vessels)
of the contract for the construction of the OPV. At that time, Morocco was interested
in two vessels, which would cost 260 million Euros, including a maintenance agreement.
Several shipyards indicated their interest in building the ships, including Navantia,
which offered its bid in August.

At the time, a team from Navatia went to Morocco to negotiate the technical and 
commercial aspects. Since then, both parties have been ironing out the technical
specifications of the new ship to Morocco’s requirements and to fulfill the roadmap
agreed in the negotiation. Construction of the vessel will begin after the completion
of engineering works.

Navantia has already supplied patrol boats and a corvette to the Royal Moroccan 
Navy in the eighties.

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