The Norwegian Coast Guard has announced the incorporation of the Jan Mayen patrol vessel, from the Hopen class, into its fleet. According to the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, all three ships of this class — Jan Mayen, Bjornoya, and Hopen — will undergo rigorous testing before beginning full operations.
These vessels are part of a contract signed in 2018 between the Norwegian government and the shipyard Vard Group AS Langsten, which involves the construction of three patrol vessels for the Coast Guard. The contract is valued at over NOK 5.2 billion (approximately 550 million euros), while the total cost of the project is estimated at NOK 8 billion.
The main objective of this acquisition is to replace the old Nordkapp-class vessels, which have been in service with the Coast Guard since 1981. The new ships are designed to withstand extreme weather and maritime conditions, especially adapted for Arctic operations. Their primary functions include ensuring maritime security, conducting search and rescue operations, firefighting, towing, protecting fisheries, and combating environmental pollution.
The hulls of the vessels were built at the Vard Tulcea shipyard in Romania, part of the Vard Group. They were then transferred to the Vard Langsten shipyard in Tomrefjord, Norway, where they were adapted and tested before being officially delivered to the Coast Guard.
The total displacement of the Jan Mayen-class ships is 9,800 tons, the hull length is 136.4 meters, the width is 22 meters, and the draft is 6.2 meters. The maximum speed is 22 knots, with an endurance of 60 days. The crew capacity is up to 100 personnel, and the ship is capable of accommodating a helicopter on board.
In terms of armament, the Hopen-class is equipped with:
Medium-caliber naval gun: The Hopen-class typically features a 57 mm gun or similar, used for short to medium-range defense operations, capable of countering surface or aerial threats.
Machine guns: In addition to the main gun, the ships are often equipped with smaller-caliber machine guns (7.62 mm or 12.7 mm) for close defense and operations against smaller vessels.
Missile systems: While the Hopen-class patrol vessels are not heavily armed with large-scale missile systems like full warships, they can be equipped with light missile systems or have the infrastructure for integrating such systems in case of an increased threat.
Electronic warfare equipment and advanced sensors: These ships are outfitted with sophisticated radar and sensor systems that aid in threat detection and navigation under extreme weather conditions, as well as encrypted communication systems for secure operations.
Helipad: The Hopen-class is also equipped with a helipad, allowing for the operation of medium-sized helicopters. This expands their surveillance, search and rescue, and logistical transport capabilities.
The Hopen-class vessels are versatile, and while they are not built for direct high-intensity combat, they are well-equipped to carry out a variety of maritime security missions and respond to threats in hostile environments.
The adoption of these new ships reflects Norway’s commitment to strengthening its defense and security capabilities in the Arctic regions, especially in times of growing geopolitical tension over the Arctic.
Sources: mil.in.ua / X @Forsvarsdep. Photos: X @Forsvarsdep. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.