Port of Spain class corvette
Encyclopedia
The Port of Spain Class are three Offshore Patrol Vessels
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
(OPVs) built by VT Shipbuilding
VT Group
VT Group plc was a British defence and services company, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. The Company had diversified from shipbuilding into various engineering and support services, becoming involved in many areas of provision through five main operating groups: VT Communications, VT...
(now BAE Systems Surface Ships) for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.
The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) gave notice in September 2010 of their intention to terminate the contract. The future delivery of the three vessels to Trinidad & Tobago is therefore now in doubt, pending negotiations.
This occurred despite two of the vessels having been completed at the time and awaiting delivery, with crew training ongoing in the UK.
They are based on the Royal Navy's
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
River Class
River class patrol vessel
The River class is a class of three offshore patrol vessels in the Royal Navy, replacing the seven ships of the Island class. A fourth, modified vessel based on the River class has also been built for the Royal Navy, replacing the Castle class, for duties in the Falklands...
and are named:
- Port of Spain
- Scarborough
- San Fernando
The vessels are 90m long, have 60 man crews and achieved a top speed of 25 knots on sea trials.
The first of the ships was constructed at BAE Systems Surface Ships’ Portsmouth facility, while the second and third vessels have been built at its shipyard at Scotstoun
Scotstoun
Scotstoun is a historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
on the Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
.
The first vessel Port of Spain was named in Portsmouth Naval Base, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on the 18 November 2009. Scarborough was launched a day later in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and began sea trials in July 2010, reaching 25.38 knots. San Fernando was the third and last of the class to be launched, on 16 July 2010.
The three Offshore Patrol Vessels are designed to perform a range of Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) management, special operations and maritime law enforcement tasks.