OPV for Cyprus Navy launched

Israel Shipyards has launched a new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for the Cyprus Navy, the company announced on 18 September.

The OPV was launched at a ceremony held at Israel Shipyards’ facility at Haifa Bay in Israel.

Ordered in December 2015, the OPV will be delivered to Cyprus by the end of 2017.

The vessel will be deployed to protect the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus. With a displacement of 430 tons, an overall length of 62m and a maximum speed of 32 knots, the new OPV can carry up to 30 crewmembers plus a special forces unit.

The vessel is integrated with multiple systems including two Rafael Typhoon weapon stations, advanced radar, electro-optical payloads, and communications systems including satellite communications, navigation systems and command and control systems.

Avi Shahaf, CEO of Israel Shipyards, said: ‘The project is of great importance for the company and we invested our knowledge, experience and ingenuity in order to build and to supply this unique technologically advanced ship.

‘We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Cyprus Ministry of Defence for the trust they invested in Israel Shipyards in order to deliver this vessel.’