Socarenam-Mauric Consortium to design and build an innovative PAMNG OPV combining hybrid propulsion and wind assistance.
~
Press Release, Marseilles, 10 January 2025: [embargoed until 14:00 CET] The [French] Directorate General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture, DGAMPA, has commissioned the Socarenam-Mauric Consortium to design and build an innovative offshore patrol vessel, combining hybrid propulsion and wind assistance, marking a significant step in reducing the environmental footprint of maritime surveillance vessels. The contract was announced on 10 January 2024 in the presence of French Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, Sea and Fisheries, Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
On December 5, 2024, DGAMPA officially awarded the Socarenam-Mauric Consortium the contract for the design and construction of this Maritime Affairs Patrol Vessel with Reduced Environmental Footprint. This order is part of a dual strategic approach: modernising the fleet dedicated to the control and surveillance system (DCS) and the commitment towards environmental exemplarity of DGAMPA vessels.
The new patrol vessel features an innovative wind-assisted propulsion solution, specifically designed to significantly reduce fuel consumption and atmospheric exhaust gas emissions. This technology, combined with diesel-electric hybrid propulsion and IMO TIER III compliant engines, positions this vessel at the forefront of maritime ecological transition. In addition to its wind-assisted and advanced hybrid propulsion, the patrol vessel incorporates several technological innovations: a hull optimised through computational fluid dynamics, enhanced insulation with optimised energy management, photovoltaic panels, and an active trim control system.
With a length of 54 metres, this offshore patrol vessel is designed for extended 12-day missions with a crew of 20 persons. It is equipped with two launch and recovery systems for 6.50-metre fast semi-rigid inflatable boats capable to intercept at a speed up to 35kts, essential for its offshore missions. The vessel’s design with a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure places paramount importance on sea-keeping and crew comfort, notably through the integration of an anti-roll stabilisation combining active fins and passive free surface tank, ensuring optimal operability in all sea states. Her propulsion configuration allows a maximum speed of 17kts and a range exceeding 3,600 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12kts.
Construction will be carried out entirely at Socarenam’s shipyard in Boulogne-Sur-Mer, with delivery scheduled for the second half of 2027. This project contributes to maintaining and developing the French naval industry, creating jobs and sustaining specialised skills in a context of high tension.
~
