Vietnam launches new OPV
Vietnamese shipbuilder Song Thu Corporation launched an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) destined for the country’s coast guard on 30 November.
Based on a Damen 9014 OPV design from the Netherlands, this is the third multipurpose vessel of what Vietnam calls the DN 2000 class. The first vessels of the Vietnam Coast Guard’s (VCG) most advanced design are numbered 8001 and 8002, while the latest vessel bears the hull number 8005.
Its construction is currently six months ahead of schedule, as 8005 was originally scheduled to launch in April 2016. Song Thu is under contract to the Directorate of Defence Industry,
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