Southern Ocean focus for new OPV
An new OPV for New Zealand will include features that will allow it to operate in the Southern Ocean and near to Antarctica.
The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) want to increase their maritime presence in this region, so the ship will have to have an ice strengthened double-hull.
At present the RNZN operates nine vessels in total, following the decision by the government to sell two of its four small inshore patrol vessels. The fleet incorporates a duo of high-end frigates and two other 85m Protector-class OPVs, pictured above, during New Zealand Defence Force exercises.
The third OPV will
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Aselsan completes Barbaros frigate mid-life upgrade project]()
Aselsan completes Barbaros frigate mid-life upgrade project
The upgrade has replaced a significant number of systems and elements with indigenous Turkish technology.
-
![HII and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries sign MoU to explore shipbuilding collaboration]()
HII and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries sign MoU to explore shipbuilding collaboration
The Memorandum of Understanding focused on speeding up naval shipbuilding and production in both companies.
-
![Latest Virginia-class submarine, USS Iowa, commissioned]()
Latest Virginia-class submarine, USS Iowa, commissioned
SSN-797 was commissioned as USS Iowa, the first Virginia-class submarine of the second Trump administration. It was described as “just the beginning” of a revitalisation of US naval shipbuilding by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.
-
![Horizon-class vessels complete critical design review in mid-life upgrade]()
Horizon-class vessels complete critical design review in mid-life upgrade
The critical design review puts the vessels on course to be fully upgraded by the end of 2030.
-
![Canada begins work on heavy polar icebreaker to protect its high-Arctic sovereignty]()
Canada begins work on heavy polar icebreaker to protect its high-Arctic sovereignty
The vessel, made under the auspices of the country’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, will be the first heavy icebreaker built in Canada for over six decades.
