Portuguese Navy’s NRP Setúbal completes sea trials

The Portuguese Navy’s new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) NRP Setúbal has completed sea trials.

As explained, the trials were designed to test the ship in extreme operational conditions. They consisted of actions that evaluated the behavior and maneuver in the sea, the response of the propulsion and electrical systems, as well as the respective automation systems.

Being built by the consortium WestSea/Edisoft, the future NRP Setúbal (P363) is currently in the final phase of construction in the city of Viana do Castelo.

The NRP Setúbal is scheduled to join the Portuguese Navy in January 2019. It will be the fourth ship of the Viana do Castelo-class built in Portugal, in addition to NRP Viana do Castelo, NRP Figueira da Foz and NRP Sines, currently in active service.

The armament of the new OPVs consists of a 30mm Oto Melara Marlin gun, two 7.62 mm lmg gun mounts as well as two launching systems for MK55 Mod 2 mines.

These vessels are designed to operate unmanned systems and are equipped with a single Sagem SA Vigy 10 MKIII naval surveillance and observation platform, three water cannons, and two rigid inflatable boats. They have been replacing the two older classes of corvettes after more than 40 years of active duty.

The future NRP Setúbal will be commanded by captain Lieutenant Zambujo Madeira and will have a crew of 44 sailors.

Este é o futuro NRP Setúbal

O próximo navio da Marinha realizou em Viana do Castelo as provas de mar com sucesso, prosseguindo agora a respetiva fase final de construção.

Todo o comunicado em https://t.co/9y1vidjljJ pic.twitter.com/xkBCQZ8Lub

— Marinha (@MarinhaPT) December 12, 2018