Thai Navy To Build Second Offshore Patrol Vessel Worth $154 Million

The Royal Thai Navy is planning to build second offshore patrol vessel (OPV) armed with guided missiles, at an estimated cost of 5.5 billion baht (USD 154 million) in three years.

Vice Adm Jumpol Lumpiganon, deputy chief of staff and spokesman for the Royal Thai Navy, was quoted as saying by The Bangkok Post on Monday that the navy’s new OPV would be developed from the design of the country’s first offshore patrol vessel.

The Mahidol Naval Dockyard of the Naval Dockyard Department will build the new vessel and the Naval Ordnance Department will be responsible for its weapons systems.

The first OPV, HTMS Krabi was based on a design by BAE Systems Ships Co of England. It is primarily used for Economic Exclusion Zone roles, including routine patrols and border controls. It will also undertake fishery protection tasks as well as protection of natural resources in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea and disaster relief.