On April 24, 2025, the Montenegrin Ministry of Defence announced that KERSHIP has begun construction of two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Montenegrin Navy.
Montenegrin MoD press release – Translated by Naval News
In the presence of the Minister of Defense Dragan Krapović, Director of KERSHIP Pascal Le Roy, and General Gaël Diaz de Tuesta, representative of the French Procurement Agency (DGA), the beginning of the construction of two new patrol ships for the Navy of the armed forced of Montenegro was marked today at the French shipyard KERSHIP in Lorient.
With this project, which officially began with the signing of an intergovernmental agreement between Montenegro and the Republic of France, as well as a commercial contract for the procurement of two patrol ships with the shipyard KERSHIP, the Navy of the armed forced of Montenegro further strengthens its ability to protect territorial waters, participate in international missions and respond to security challenges at sea.
Minister Krapović expressed his belief that the construction of the ships will be successfully completed and that it will give a new dimension to the otherwise excellent defense cooperation between Montenegro and France.
“Our decision to cooperate with France, a country with one of the most developed defense systems and one of the strongest military industries in Europe, in this project is part of a partnership with one of the most important strategic allies since Montenegro became a Euro-Atlantic member”, said Krapović.
He added that today is a significant day for the Navy of Montenegro, which will significantly increase its capacities and capabilities with the new ships, both for national needs and for the obligations it has undertaken as a NATO member.
The ships are designed for a wide range of tasks, including surveillance of territorial waters, the fight against smuggling and illegal migration, as well as for participation in international missions within NATO.
The Ministry of Defense remains committed to the development of modern and operationally capable forces, in accordance with national interests and obligations within the NATO alliance.
The ceremony was also addressed by Anne Marie Maskay, Ambassador of France to Montenegro, General Gael Diaz de Tuesta, representative of the DGA, and the company’s director, Le Roy.
The event was attended, among others, by the Commander of the Navy of Montenegro, Commander Milan Jevtović, and the Acting General Director of the Logistics Directorate, Lieutenant Colonel Radovan Kostić.
-End-
Naval News comment:
Montenegro signed a contract for the acquisition of two OPV 60M Offshore Patrol Vessels built by the French shipyard Kership at Euronaval 2024.
Serving in the Senegalese navy, the OPV 60 is KERSHIP’s answer to law enforcement operations at sea with increased flexibility, high endurance, improved seakeeping behavior, robust construction, and high firepower.
Meeting operational requests, and benefiting from KERSHIP’s expertise in shipbuilding and system integration, the OPV 60 is the ideal compact solution to ensure surveillance in coastal and EEZ waters with true combat capabilities.
The OPV 60 is an optimized naval asset, with military capabilities that enable it to cover the full spectrum of law enforcement at sea missions and contribute to territorial maritime defense.
Specifications:
- Length: 62.2m
- Width: 9.5m
- Displacement: 620 tons
- Endurance: 5000 nautical miles, 21 days
The post Kership starts the construction of two OPVs for Montenegro appeared first on Naval News.
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