Spanish yard delivers high-speed patrol boats

摘要

Astilleros Gondan is probably best known for building in steel, and for building a wide range of offshore support vessels, but its latest deliveries are two 20.90m-long/5.00m beam high-speed patrol boats built in GRP at its Castropol yard. The vessels - Rio Belelle and Rio Agueda - were designed and equipped for surveillance and to counter drug smuggling and illegal immigration. They are also intended to provide protection to the marine environment, in keeping with the duties of the Guardia Civil. Built for a service life of at least 15 years, they can reach a speed of 36knots thanks to more than 2,000hp of installed power. They were ordered in July 2014 - one will be based in Cadiz, the home port for the other unit being 100km to the east at Algeciras, close to the Straits of Gibraltar. With a range of more than 570 miles and fitted with waterjet propulsors, they comply with MARPOL air pollution standards. The vessels provide accommodation for five crew members in single cabins, according to the standard of Guardia Civil for this type of vessel.