Ukrainian specialists are manufacturing patrol boats in France

7 June, 2023 Building of OCEA FPB 98 patrol boats by OCEA. October 2021. Photo credits: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine

Ukrainian specialists from the Nibulon company are involved in the production of patrol boats for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine at the facilities of the French company OCEA. The press service of the Nibulon shipbuilding enterprise announced this news. The company should have produced five boats for the needs of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine at its facilities in Mykolaiv.

However, due to the Russian full-scale invasion, the partners had to come up with an alternative solution to continue implementing the agreement. The parties agreed to move production to France with the mandatory involvement of Ukrainian shipbuilders. Therefore, at the beginning of June, 23 specialists, including pipe fitters, hull assemblers, mechanics, welders, and technical support workers, left for France, where they will continue the implementation of the intergovernmental agreement at the OSEA shipbuilding company facilities.

The shipbuilders will be involved in the construction of boats from scratch - from the beginning of deck assembly to commissioning. This experience will help them maintain the fleet in the future, in Ukraine and on their own. By involving experienced professionals, it is possible to keep the vessels in good condition and reduce the total cost of ownership of the fleet, which on average, consists is 70% of maintenance costs.

OSEA FPB98MKI boats for the Maritime Guard of the State Border Service of Ukraine.

France, April 2023. Photo credits: Andriy Honcharov/Facebook

In May, Militarnyi reported that the first two patrol boats of the Maritime Guard of the State Border Service of Ukraine, which Ukraine ordered from the French shipbuilding company OCEA, were sent from France. The intergovernmental agreement between France and Ukraine is an element of the project to strengthen the maritime security and defense system of Ukraine.

The agreement assumes loans in the amount of EUR136.5 million from the French government and European banks to construct French boats. In total, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine ordered 20 such boats, 5 of which were previously planned to be constructed in Ukraine at the facilities of the Nibulon company.

Ocea FPB 98

FPB 98 MK.I is a light maneuverable patrol boat with a length of 32 meters. It was designed by the French shipbuilding company OCEA.

The boat is made of aluminum alloy, so it has a small draft and is capable of sailing in shallow water. It can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h and is designed for a crew of four.

OCEA boat.

Photo from open sources

The multifunctional boat has all the necessary means for rescuing people and providing emergency assistance on the water, extinguishing fires, diving and searching operations, and cleaning water from pollution.

The vessel is additionally equipped with equipment for humanitarian demining and transportation of cargo weighing up to 1.5 tons.

The boat is equipped with modern optical-electronic surveillance systems and a place to install RIB boats for inspection groups.