Bahamas Defense Force Orders Four New Vessels from SAFE Boats
SAFE Boats International (SBI) reports it signed a contract with the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF), adding another four 41-foot Interceptors to its current fleet of existing SAFE Boat vessels.This latest contract, signed January 11, is the result of collaborating efforts over the past three years between RBDF and SBI, the Pacific Northwest boatbuilder said. This contract is a fully funded, direct purchase by the RBDF to supply four vessels, trailers and support vehicles.Signing the contract for the Bahamian government was the Honorable Wayne Munroe…
VSTEP, Damen Partner for Bahamas Defence Training
A recent cooperation agreement between Damen and VSTEP has been established for the delivery of a NAUTIS Full Mission Bridge Simulator with Alphatron Marine equipment to the Royal Bahamas Defense Force. The delivery is part of the Sandy Bottom Project, which sees the Defense Force acquire a range of Damen patrol vessels, upgrade its existing fleet and develop its port and base infrastructure. VSTEP, with input from Damen, will develop four simulated vessels for use in its custom simulator.
Seven Rescued near Great Inagua
Coast Guard rescued seven people Wednesday from a 180-foot motor vessel taking on water about 46 miles west of Great Inagua, Bahamas. At 5:20 a.m., Coast Guard Seventh District Command Center watch standers received an alert from a locating device from the motor vessel Trois Rivieres near Great Inagua. Watch standers diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Confidence crew and directed the launch of a forward deployed Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew. The rescue crew arrived on scene at 7:19 a.m. to lower the rescue swimmer with a dewatering pump and generator to help the Trois Rivieres crew. The pump wasn’t able to keep up with the water intake and the crew abandoned ship.
Bahamas Corvette Gets a Lifetime Extension
The 60-meter Royal Bahamas Defense Force Corvette HMBS Nassau (P-61) has arrived at Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam in the Netherlands for an extensive refit. The 17-year old vessel will receive a comprehensive overhaul that comprises full systems and instrumentation replacement. The P-61 refit is part of the ‘Sandy Bottom Project’ contract between Damen Shipyards Group and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force that the two parties signed in 2014. This includes the delivery of nine Damen vessels…
RoRo Launched for Royal Bahamas Defense Force
A Damen RoRo 5612 was launched this month at Halong Shipyard in Vietnam, the shipbuilder announced. The RoRo is one of nine Damen vessels ordered by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force as part of its Sandy Bottom Project. The vessel’s multipurpose capabilities will be put to use by the Defense Force in a range of situations including law enforcement, aids to navigation (ATON), replenishment at sea (RAS), the re-supply to Defense Force bases and the provision of disaster relief throughout the island nation and the wider Caribbean community.
Damen Outfitting First of Nine Bahamas Patrol Boats
The first of nine Damen Stan Patrol 3007s ordered by the Royal Bahamas Defense Force has arrived at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands for outfitting. The order features four Stan Patrol 4207 vessels, one RoRo 5612 and a further three Stan Patrol 3007 vessels. Damen has designed the Stan Patrol 3007 with the client’s requirements in mind. Robin van der Zon, Project Manager at Damen Shipyards Group explained, “These patrol vessels will prevent smuggling and people trafficking, so it’s vital they can quickly reach places other vessels cannot.
Partnerships Key to Caribbean Maritime Security
Maritime security and safety experts are meeting in Nassau, Bahamas, this week to examine mutual threats and solutions and challenges and opportunities in the region. Maritime Security Caribbean 2014 is being held at the Melia Nassau Beach hotel, attended by representatives of government and industry. In addition to security threats from criminals or terrorists, there is a heightened awareness today of the environmental threats posed by norovirus and ebola and other communicable health problems.
Royal Bahamas Defense Force Contracts Damen
Following a six-year acquisition program, the Government of the Bahamas announced the signing of a letter of intent to acquire nine vessels for the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and construction work for their naval bases. The contract has been placed with Damen Shipyards Group, headquartered in Gorinchem, the Netherlands. In announcing the contract, the Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Bernard Nottage, stressed that his Government was determined to protect the security and economic well-being of the people of the Bahamas and this order was a powerful endorsement of this commitment.
