Naval Group Delivers Third of 4 Multi-mission Patrol Vessel to Argentina

The Argentine Navy has taken delivery of the fourth Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) A.R.A. Storni (OPV 87) built by Naval Group today.

This delivery was carried out by teams from Naval Group and Kership, a joint-venture between Piriou and Naval Group. It is part of the contract signed by Naval Group with Argentina in 2019 for the delivery of four multi-mission patrol vessels. A.R.A. Bouchard (former L’Adroit) was delivered in December 2020 and A.R.A Piedrabuena on April 13th this year.

With the delivery of A.R.A. Storni, the program keeps progressing as scheduled to conclude with the delivery of the last vessel scheduled for April 2022. A 44-people crew from the Argentine Navy has been trained in the operation and maintenance of the vessel.

This third patrol vessel of the series acquired by the Argentine Navy offers the same assets and features as those of the A.R.A. Piedrabuena. Better armed and motorised than the Bouchard, equipped with an active stabilisation system and a bow thruster, it is also adapted to navigation in the cold waters of Antarctica.

The 87m-long OPV can stay in deep seas for more than three weeks. It can reach speed of 20 knots and can accommodate a helicopter. It has a displacement of 1,650 tons and endurance of over 7,000 nautical miles. Implemented by a reduced crew of 40 members, it is also able to accommodate about twenty extra passengers. The boat’s boarding capacity us two light crafts of 9 meters and one 10-ton class helicopter.