The Cypriot Republic has decided to buy one Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) from Israel and has started an international competition for the procurement of three more.
The new vessel will protect and guard the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone and the recently discovered Aphrodite gas field.
The programme started several years ago, when in 2013 the Cypriot government reached a 100 million Euro agreement with Israel for the procurement of two large Offshore Patrol Vessels.
Unfortunately the agreement did not receive the approval of the Cypriot Parliament due to the austerity programme that Cyprus was implementing at the time.
Two years later the Cypriot government is now preparing to sign a new agreement with Israel for the procurement of the Offshore Patrol Vessel and the training of its crew.
According to the Cypriot newspaper “Simerini”, the vessel will be delivered to Cyprus shortly after the agreement is signed. It will allow the Cypriot Republic to obtain the initial capability for policing its Exclusive Economic Zone.
The second phase of the Cypriot programme for the creation of a Naval Force includes the procurement of three more OPVs through an international competition.
At the moment the Cypriot National Guard is defining the terms of the competition which is going to be announced soon.
Already several European shipyards have expressed interest in the Cypriot shipbuilding programme.
Furthermore the Cypriot government has decided to establish a Coast Guard Corp, and has already announced an international competition for the procurement of Search and Rescue boats.
Image Sourced: Ministry of Defence, Cyprus