Latvia has officially incorporated the patrol boat Barta in its fleet after an extensive modernization process carried out in Estonia.
The ship was taken into service with the State Border Guard of Latvia during a solemn flag ceremony in the city of Liepaja.
The information was made public by the Estonian company Baltic Workboats, which was responsible for the repair and modernization of the vessel. According to the company, Barta represents a “second life” project: originally built in 2016 by Damen, the boat has undergone a complete renovation at the shipyard and received upgrades that extend its life and adapt the vessel to more modern operational and sustainability requirements.
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In a statement, Baltic Workboats stated that the ceremony marked the successful completion of the project and highlighted the growing importance of modernization programs in the company’s portfolio as an alternative to new build marine platforms.
The background of the ship
Before the upgrade, Barta was known as Osamede and was the fourth patrol boat in Damen’s FCS 3307 project. The vessel was built in 2015 at Damen’s shipyard in Singapore under the original name Defender IX and belonged to the company Strickland Services in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
At the time, Strickland operated at least ten FCS 3307 vessels under contracts for the protection of oil and gas facilities in Nigerian waters. In July 2022, the vessel arrived in Cape Town from Nigeria, where it was put up for sale, after which ownership later reverted to Damen.
No specific technical details have been made public about the modifications carried out by the Estonian shipyards during the modernization process.
FCS 3307 – properties
The standard patrol boat FCS 3307 is 33 meters long and has a displacement of approximately 168 tonnes. It is equipped with three main engines of the type Caterpillar C32 ACERT with twelve cylinders and four-stroke configuration, each with an output of 1,600 hp (1,193 kW). These drive three propellers and enable an operational speed of up to 30 knots.
The design uses the Damen Sea Ax Bow bow, which improves seaworthiness in rough seas. Among the auxiliary systems are two Caterpillar C4.4T generators of 59 kW each and a transverse bow thruster of 75 kW which increases maneuverability. The vessel is also equipped with fire-fighting equipment, including a monitor with a capacity of 180 m³/h.
The stated range is up to 1,200 nautical miles at 30 knots. The aft working deck has an area of 75 m² with a load capacity of 2.5 t/m². The standard crew consists of six people, with extra space for up to 12 members in observation or boarding groups.
For patrol missions, the FCS 3307 can be equipped with positions for machine guns and with the option of reinforcing the bridge with armor plates and ballistic windows.
Source and images: Baltic Workboats | X @LiepajaSEZ | Militarnyi. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors.
