The Icelandic government has ordered an Oceanographic Patrol Vessel from ASMAR-Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Company, Chile, for the Icelandic Coast Guard. The vessel is designed by Rolls-Royce Norway for patrol operations in the North Atlantic.
The vessel will be used for missions such as Fishery Inspection, EEZ Resource Management, Border Control and Search and Rescue Operations (SAR). She will also participate in duties such as an on-scene command and coordination platform, fire fighting, emergency towing and pushing operations, salvage operations, pollution control including oil recovery operations and helicopter in-flight refuelling.
The contract for the construction of this modern patrol vessel denominated Multi Functional Coast Guard Vessel was signed in Reykjavik, by ASMAR Executive Director, Rear Admiral Carlos Fanta and the representatives of Iceland, Arni Mathiessen, Minister of Treasury, Björn Bjarnason, Minister of Justice, and Georg Lárusson, General Director of the Icelandic Coast Guard, at the end of 2006.
The project was awarded to ASMAR after an international tender where the Chilean shipyard competed with the main shipyards of the world.
Besides the conventional equipment, the vessel features a Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) and multidirectional retractile shaft (Azimuth Thruster).
