In November 2019, an intergovernmental agreement between France and Ukraine has been signed to support the reinforcement of the maritime safety and security in Ukraine. OCEA won the international consultation launched by the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior.
The acquisition contract is for 20 patrol vessels of 32 m type OCEA FPB 98 MKI to ensure the country’s sovereignty in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
The launching ceremony of the BG201, the first OCEA FPB 98 MKI of a fleet of twenty units, took place this Thursday, December 9th, 2021 at OCEA site in Les Sables d’Olonne. His Excellency, Mr. Vadym OMELCHENKO, Ambassador of Ukraine in France, and representative of the French Government were present at the ceremony.
Five of the twenty FPB 98 MKI vessels ordered will be built by Nibulon Shipyard, in Ukraine in Mykolaiv. The fleet is accompanied by a set of services including crew training, ship maintenance and technical assistance to the customer during the warranty phase. The first vessel is to arrive from France to Odessa in Ukraine next spring. The OCEA FPB 98 MKI are planned to be deployed in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
About OCEA’s FPB 98 MKI
The OCEA FPB MKI are vessels designed by OCEA for Maritime Safety missions from one to two weeks within the Exclusive Economic Zone. Designed to operate as a real naval base at sea, these self-sufficient vessels display key design technologies. Thanks to a combination of high speed and endurance, the high level of equipment and comfort enable the monitoring of a large operational area and the coordination of operations such as:
- Territorial and deep-sea surveillance operations
- Smuggling and illegal immigration control
- Control of vessels at sea
- Search & rescue
- Natural resources and blue economy protection
- Sovereignty
OCEA’s 32 meters-long FPB 98 patrol vessel has a crew complement of 13 sailors and features a maximum speed of 30 knots. The FPB 98 is currently in service with the Suriname Coast Guards, and the navies of Algeria, Benin and Nigeria.
Each vessel will be equipped with a modern optoelectronic surveillance system and a RHIB for the reconnaissance groups of the border guards.
OCEA FPB MKI main characteristics:
Length overall: 31.80 meters
Width overall: 6.30 meters
Draft: 1.15 meters
Hull: Aluminum
Propulsion: 2x 1,342 kW (waterjet)
Crew: 13 sailors (+ 6 passengers)
Top speed (fully loaded): 30 knots
Range: 1,200 nautical miles @ 12 knots
