GDFS Berbice
History
GuyanaGuyana
NameBerbice
NamesakeBerbice River
BuilderMetal Shark Boats
Cost$11.5 million
Launched4 August 2023
Commissioned12 November 2023
General characteristics
Class and typeDefiant-class patrol vessel
Length115 feet (35 m)
Propulsion2 × Caterpillar C32 diesels, 2 shafts
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)

GDFS Berbice is a 115 Defiant-class patrol vessel of the Guyana Defence Force. It was launched in 2023 shortly before the 2023 Guyana–Venezuela crisis.

Ship history

Amid the renewed Guyana–Venezuela territorial dispute in the 2010s when Guyana discovered offshore oil, Venezuela increased its aggression towards its eastern neighbor.[1] Concerns about Guyana's aging flagship, the GDFS Essequibo, were raised.[1] In May 2021, Guyana used emergency funds to make a down payment to commence the construction of the GDFS Berbice, citing the need to defend its exclusive economic zone from Venezuela.[1]

On 4 August 2023, the Berbice was launched from the Metal Shark Boats production factory in Jeanerette, Louisiana.[2] Months later on 30 October 2023, Metal Shark announced that the ship sailed to its shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.[1] The Berbice was incorporated into the Guyana Defence Force in Georgetown, Guyana on 12 November 2023.[3] Venezuelan media criticized the incorporation of the ship.[4][5]

Specifications

The Berbice is 115 feet (35 m) long, has a range of 2,000 miles (3,200 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and can travel at a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph).[3] It has a crew of twenty-four officers and sailors.[3] It can also serve as a mother ship for 5 metres (16 ft) rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) that can be manned by ten individuals.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Guyana buys US$11.5M boat to protect Exxon's operations". Kaieteur News. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  2. ↑ "August 4th, 2023: Metal Shark Launches 115-Foot Patrol Vessel for Guyana Defense Force". Metal Shark Boats. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bravo, Douglas (2023-11-12). "Guardia Costera de Guyana recibe un OPV 115 Defiant de Metal Shark - Noticias Defensa Centro América". Defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  4. ↑ "ExxonMobil empieza a extraer petróleo en aguas pendientes por delimitar entre Guyana y Venezuela". El Universal (in Spanish). 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  5. ↑ "Guyana incorporó un buque estadounidense a su flota en su pretensión de militarizar el Esequibo". Notitarde (in Spanish). 15 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
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