Norwegian Coast Guard names third and final Jan Mayen-class vessel

The Norwegian Coast Guard had held a naming ceremony for the third and last Jan Mayen-class vessel.

As disclosed, the vessel was christened at Vard Langsten in Norway on June 12, 2024. With the naming ceremony of the third vessel in the Jan Mayen class, one of Norway’s largest maritime acquisitions ever is about to be completed.

According to the officials, the vessel will contribute to strengthening the Norwegian Coast Guard’s preparedness, capability, and endurance along the coast and throughout Norway’s maritime area of interest.

“This is a big day for us in the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency and the Norwegian coastline. We welcome KV Hopen, the third and final coast guard vessel in the Jan Mayen class, to the Norwegian Armed Forces. For decades, we have supported the Navy and the Coast Guard with the North Cape class. We are looking forward to supporting KV Hopen and the Jan Mayen class throughout its service to Norway,” said Gro Jære, Director General of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency.

The contract to build three coast guard vessels was signed between the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency and VARD on June 25, 2018. Together, the vessels have a total cost of NOK 8 billion ($756 million).

The first two Coast Guard vessels, KV Jan Mayen and KV Bjørnøya, were handed over from the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency to the navy in 2023.

KV Hopen is built under strict environmental and emission requirements, and the three new vessels have CBRN protection, which means collective protection against chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear pollution.

The Jan Mayen class is a significantly larger vessel than the Nordkapp class and has capabilities such as ice reinforcement, modern technology, accommodation for 100 people, helicopter deck and hangar, and can go eight weeks at sea without resupply of fuel, provisions, and other consumables, according to the officials.

Like the other two vessels KV Hopen is 136.4 meters long and 22 meters wide and will be able to operate throughout Norway’s area of interest. Based on the navy’s requirements, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency has designed the vessels together with LMG in Bergen. The hulls are built by Vard Shipyards Romania – Tulcea and outfitted, finalized, and delivered from Vard Langsten in Norway.