German shipbuilder Fassmer GmbH & Co. KG and its Lithuanian partner Western Baltic Shipyard laid keels of the first two of four Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Republic of Singapore Navy. Singapore Armed Forces’ Chief of Defence Force – Vice Admiral Aaron Beng and the Chief of Navy – Rear Admiral, Sean Wat as well as other Singaporean authorities attended the event.
The construction of the OPVs started back in October 2024 with the first steel-cutting ceremony with the objective to deliver the first vessel from 2028. The contract is divided as the Western Baltic shipyard in Lithuania is responsible for building the hulls, while Fassmer is the designer and prime contractor. The German shipbuilder is also in charge of the fitting-out, which will take place in Bern, Germany.
“The ceremony took place in the presence of senior representatives of the Singapore Armed Forces – including Vice Admiral Aaron Beng and Rear Admiral Sean Wat – as well as guests from DSTA, ST Engineering Marine, the Lithuanian Navy, BLRT Grupp and, of course, Fassmer.
We are proud to contribute our experience in naval shipbuilding to the RSN’s new fleet – reliable, efficient and ready for the tasks of tomorrow”Fassmer via LinkedIn – 08/04/2025
The Potsdam-class Offshore Patrol Vessel
The future OPV of the Republic of Singapore Navy are based on the Potsdam-class of the German Federal Police. It is currently composed of four ships, Potsdam, Bamberg, Bad Düben and Neustadt. Neustadt is the last ship to have entered service, being commissioned in June 2023.
The vessels are 86.02 meters long and 13.42 meters wide. They are all powered by two Wartsila diesel engines that each generate 4,080 kilowatts, augmented by two 600 kW electric motors, driving controllable pitch propellers that propel them to a top speed of 21 knots.
All vessels are equipped with a single BAE Systems Bofors 57 Mk3 57mm gun as their main armament, with two .50 caliber machine guns as additional armament.
Vessels of the Potsdam-class are equipped with a helicopter landing deck that can accommodate the Federal Police’s Airbus Helicopters H215 Super Puma, and have internal room for five mission containers.
