Barentshav-class offshore patrol vessel

The Barentshav class of offshore patrol vessels will consist of three vessels powered by liquefied natural gas. Ordered for the Norwegian Coast Guard, their main tasks will be EEZ patrol, fishery inspection, search and rescue as well as tug readiness along the shore of Norway which is seeing increasing traffic from tankers.

Design
The vessels are of the Vik-Sandvik design VS 794 CGV, will be built by Myklebust Verft and operated by Remøy Management on behalf of the Norwegian Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard expects a 90% decrease in NOx fume releases, and a 20% decrease in CO2 releases compared to a conventionally powered vessel of similar size.

The ships are set to replace the NoCGV Chieftain, Tromsø and Stålbas. Chieftains lease contract expired at the end of 2007, Tromsøs contract expired on the 20 March 2007, whereas Stålbas' contract expired at the end of 2006. NoCGV Barentshav was delivered in August 2009, and is to be followed by the NoCGV Bergen and NoCGV Sortland late 2009/early 2010 and 2010.

The Barentshav class will be equipped ready for the NATO Submarine Rescue System.