The Bahamas Ministry of National Security has awarded a contract to Damen Shipyard to supply nine new vessels for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF).
Under the contract, Damen Shipyard will provide four 138ft-long Damen Stan Patrol 4207 vessels with 8ft draft, and four 98ft-long Damen Stan Patrol 3007 vessels with 6.5ft draft.
The company will also provide nine rigid inflatable boats and one Damen roll-on roll-off landing craft, Damen Stan Lander 5617, which is 183ft-long and has 8.5ft draft.
Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie said: "The acquisition of these ships will place our country in a position to effectively police our waters with respect to minimising the extent to which poachers take advantage of our marine life and marine resources to the detriment of our fishermen."
The contract scope also covers port infrastructural works (both marine and shore-side) at Coral Harbour (New Providence), Gun Point (Ragged Island) and Mathew Town (Great Inagua).
Image: A Damen-built vessel at sea. Photo: copyright Damen Shipyards Group 2011.
