China Delivers "NNS Centenary" First P18N Offshore Patrol Vessel to Nigerian Navy

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Naval Industry News - China
 
 
 
China Delivers "NNS Centenary" First P18N Offshore Patrol Vessel to Nigerian Navy
 
According to local media, the first of two P-18N offshore patrol vessels (OPV) ordered by the Nigerian Navy was delivered today at the China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company (CSOC)'s Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan, China. CSOC is part of the part of the State Shipbuilding Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC). This OPV, reportedly nammed Centenary, is the first patrol ship China has exported to West Africa.
     
     
According to local media, the first of two P-18N offshore patrol vessels (OPV) ordered by the Nigerian Navy was delivered today at the China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company (CSOC)'s Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan, China. CSOC is part of the part of the State Shipbuilding Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC). This OPV, reportedly nammed The Century, is the first patrol ship China has exported to West Africa.
Model of the P18N OPV on the CSOC stand during AAD 2014
     
P18N Offshore Patrol Vessel

In April 2012, Nigeria signed a contract with China to build two P18N OPVs. Under the contract, the lead ship was to be built in Wuhan with construction starting in October 2012, while the second unit is expected to be partially built in Nigeria..

At AAD 2014, defense show that took place in September this year in South Africa, a representative from CSOC gave us the following specifications:
P18N Offshore Patrol Vessels have a displacement of 1,700 tons, a length of 95 m, width of 12.2 m and beam of 3.5 m. It is powered by two MTU 20V 4000M diesel engines. The maximum speed is 21 knots. The endurance of the vessel is 20 days at sea (range 3000 nautical miles at 14 knots) for a crew of 70 sailors.

Sensors include:
- TR47 Tracking Radar
- SR60 Surveillance Radar
- Navigation radar (of chinese origin)
- PJ46 Decoy launchers
- 2x communication antennas under radomes
- UHF/VHF radios
The class is not fitted with sonars.

The Combat Management Systems (CMS) was developped by the Wuhan Digital Engineering Institute.

These OPVs are fitted with a H/PJ26 76mm main gun mount and two H/PJ14 30mm gun mounts. The class may accomodate a Z- 9 helicopter thanks to its helipad. Only rotary UAVs may fit inside the hangar space however.
     
At AAD 2014 (Africa Aerospace and Defence Exhibition which took place from the 17 to 21 September in South Africa) the China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company (CSOC) showcased its P18N Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) and its LPD/LHD design. The booth also featured a scale model of China's aircraft carrier Liaoning. CSOC is part of the part of the State Shipbuilding Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).
Launch of the first P18N OPV for Nigerian Navy in Wuhan, China in January 2014
     
Navy Recognition was told that the P18N was designed by China Ship Design and Research Center, or 701 Institute of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) at the Wuhan University of Science and Technology,

P18N mainmissions will include coastal and offshore patrol, protecting the EEZ areas, carrying out search and rescues, preventing marine pollution and anti-piracy. Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, has seen an increase in piracy in the Gulf of Guinea in recent years.