The Mexican Navy has collaborated with Damen Shipyards Group to construct a technologically advanced vessel through the Directorate General of Shipbuilding.
Dubbed long-range ocean patrol (POLA), the 107m-long navy vessel will be the Mexican version of the SIGMA 10514 ship built by Damen.
Go deeper with GlobalData
With a beam of 14m, the Mexican ship POLA will be capable of travelling at speeds of more than 25k and sail for more than 20 days at sea.
Damen Shipyards Group representative said: “This vessel will be capable of carrying out various missions such as safeguarding Mexican sovereignty, international security cooperation, long-range search-and-rescue operations, and humanitarian aid.
“POLA will allow the Mexican state to increase its surveillance coverage and the protection of Mexican maritime interests beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone.”
Through this project, the Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC) will transfer its knowledge of constructing complex vessels to the Mexican Navy.
Two of the six modular sections of the vessel will be constructed at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) facility in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, while the remaining four modules will be developed in Mexico.
Construction of the four modules and their integration will be performed at a Mexican yard that will cooperate on this with Damen.
The flagging ceremony of the Mexican Navy ship is expected to be carried out in November. A fully integrated process of setting to work, commissioning, training, tests and trials of POLA will continue in 2019.
