Vessel Fully Operational by Year-End
The Colombian Navy’s newest logistics ship, the ARC ISLA ALBUQUERQUE, was launched recently on the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the Navy’s General Maritime Directorate (DIMAR).
This new vessel will support maritime operations such as buoy tender, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, environmental tasks such as transport and installation of spill control barriers, cargo transport and emergency search and rescue operations. At 24m length and 8m beam, the vessel has a payload capacity of 26t and – thanks to an azimuth propulsion system – can maintain a stable static position during maritime operations. Crew complement is 15 officers and ratings.
Construction began at the COTECMAR shipyard in December 2019. Crew training is expected to begin shortly, with performance tests in harbour being followed by sea trials. The Navy expects to have the vessel fully operational by December.
Florencia Lucero Heguy and Santiago Rivas reporting from Buenos Aires for MON