The Brazilian Navy Ship, BNS Amazonas, an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) visited the port of Cape Town over the period of 08 to 13 April.
The ship’s Officer Commanding, Commander Claudio Henrique Teizeira Correeia, paid courtesy calls with his delegation to the Acting Flag Officer Fleet of the South African Navy, Rear Admiral (JG) G. Jamieson and the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Base Simon’s Town Rear Admiral (JG) J.T. Dlamini for the exchange of gifts and to gain an understanding of the South African Navy fleet.
The South African Navy’s Meko class frigate SAS Isandlwana sailed from Simon’s Town to rendezvous with BNS Amazonas during a PASSEX to conduct Light Line Transfers on 13 April.
The Brazilian OPV was built by BAE Systems Portsmouth and launched on 18 November 2009 and commissioned on 29 June 2013 as part of the Grouping of Naval Southeast (Brazilian Navy).
With a 30 mm cannon and two 25 mm guns, as well as two rigid inflatable boats and a helicopter flight deck capable of landing a medium-sized helicopter, the ship is ideal for performing maritime security in Brazil’s territorial waters, including the protection of the country’s oil and gas reserves, BAE Systems said. The vessel accommodates a crew of 80, with additional accommodation for 40 embarked troops or passengers and ample deck space for container storage.
The three OPVs in this class acquired by Brazil from BAE Systems were originally built by BAE Systems for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago under a contract signed with the then-Vosper Thornycroft (VT) company in 2007. VT had originally committed to providing the ships in mid-2009 and the Trinidad media suggested the country’s government had become increasingly frustrated by the delays. This contract was terminated in late 2010 and BAE Systems since marketed the vessels to interested countries.
The vessel has a displacement of 1700 tons full load, a length of 264ft (80 meters), beam of 44.3ft (13.5 meters), draught of 11.5ft (3.5 meters) and is propelled by two MAN 16V28V/33D diesel engines giving a speed of 25+ knots.
