P360 NRP “Viana do Castelo” 83.10 Meters long vessel is the first of four vessels contracted by the Portuguese MoD procurement agency DGAIED (Direcção-Geral de Armamento e Infra-Estruturas de Defesa). Two of them are NCP (Navio de Combate à Poluição) vessels which are configured for combat pollution mission.

The program includes the construction of four additional NPO vessels but a contract has not yet been firmed said the MoD spokesperson to PoADU. Viana do Castelo Class will progressively replace João Coutinho Class and Baptista de Andrade Class corvettes.

Note that the NPO design is based on a project provided by German Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (part of German Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems AG).

The second vessel P361 NRP “Figueira da Foz” is being built and its construction could be completed in 2011.

Negotiations are being carried at an advanced stage to sell the two NPO vessels to oil rich Nigeria. This first export contract for the NPO design could be a perfect opportunity to attract future deals in a market where companies like Fr. Fassmer GmbH & Co KG, Fincantieri-Cantieri Navali Italiani SpA, Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie, Navantia SA, Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding and BAE Systems Surface Ships play cards.

The propulsion package includes two Wärtsilä 12V26 engines, two SCV61H61 gearbox and two 5C08 controllable pitch propellers.

Kelvin Hugues Ltd has provided the integrated tactical bridge system, the ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) navigation charts system, MX420 DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) navigation systems and two Manta 2000 navigation radar systems (I and F Bands).

A complete integrated communications system which is called SIC (Sistema Integrado de Comunicações) has been installed by the Portuguese company Empresa de Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Electrónica SA.

A consortium formed by Rolls-Royce Marine and EDISOFT-Empresa de Serviços e Desenvolvimento de Software SA has installed an integrated platform management system and the SII (Sistema Integrador de Informação) integrated information system.

The vessels is also equipped with a single Sagem SA Vigy 10 MKIII naval surveillance and observation platform, three water cannons, two rigid inflatable boats from Delta Power Group and is capable to accommodate a Super Lynx MK95 light helicopter. In the future the vessel could be capable to operate unmanned systems said a source to PoADU.

The armament consists of a GFE (Government Furnished Equipment) 40mm L/60 turreted gun and provisions for two manned mounts to be armed with 7.62mm light machine guns as well as two launching systems for MK55 Mod 2 mines.

The 40mm gun is to be replaced by an Oto Melara SpA MARLIN WS (Modular Advanced Remotely controlled LIghtweight Naval Weapon Station) naval remotely controlled weapon station. Two systems procured to equip the first two boats are to be delivered by mid 2011 said the MoD spokesperson to PoADU.

NRP “Viana do Castelo” feature a top speed of 21 Knots and autonomy of up to 5000 NM and is manned by a crew of 38. The vessel is headed by Comandante César Manuel Pires Correia.

Note that the helicopter landing grid has been delivered by FHS Förder und Hebesysteme GmbH and the ammunition elevator by TBV Marine Systems BV.

Even they are OPVs (Ocean Patrol Vessels), NPOs are not equipped with systems such as a combat management system, a hull mounted sonar, an ESM (Electronic Support Measures) suite or an inertial navigation system.