On October 12, the Portuguese Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) NRP Viana do Castelo arrived at the Port of Cape Town, marking another significant stop in its extensive journey around Africa. Having departed Lisbon in August, the Viana do Castelo has already visited Namibia in September and Mozambique in early October. Its next destination is Angola, followed by participation in the Grand African Nemo exercise in the Gulf of Guinea. The vessel’s itinerary includes stops in Cabo Verde, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, and Mauritania before returning to Portugal in December.
Vessel Specifications and Capabilities
The Viana do Castelo class is a class of offshore patrol vessels planned by and for the Portuguese Navy, as a result of the NPO2000 Project (Portuguese, Navios de Patrulha Oceânica, for Oceanic Patrol Vessels), that are being constructed in the West Sea Shipyard.
Commissioned in March 2011, the NRP Viana do Castelo is the first of its class. It measures 83.1 meters in length, with a beam of 12.95 meters and a draught of 3.82 meters. Originally designed to operate in the North Atlantic Ocean, the vessel’s primary roles include fisheries protection and search and rescue (SAR) operations. Over the years, the Portuguese Navy has made several upgrades to its OPVs, including the Viana do Castelo. Initially equipped with an old 40 mm naval gun, it now boasts a 30 mm Oto Melara Marlin main gun. Future upgrades are set to enhance its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities and enable vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
International Naval Presence
The Viana do Castelo’s visit to Cape Town coincided with the arrival of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel Lyme Bay. Additionally, other notable naval visitors included the Brazilian Niteroi-class frigate BNS Defensora, equipped with a Super Lynx helicopter and a Special Forces team, and the Indian Navy frigate INS Talwar, featuring a Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopter and an Indian Special Forces team. Both of these vessels are currently participating in Exercise Ibsamar alongside the South African Navy frigate SAS Amatola.
Departure and Future Engagements
The NRP Viana do Castelo is scheduled to depart Cape Town on Monday, October 14. The vessel’s extensive journey underscores the Portuguese Navy’s commitment to international cooperation and maritime security. Its participation in multinational exercises like the Grand African Nemo in the Gulf of Guinea further demonstrates its role in fostering regional stability and security.