Nordkapp_class_OPV
Nordkapp-class offshore patrol vessel
Class of Norwegian Coast Guard ship
The Nordkapp class is a Norwegian Coast Guard ship class built in the 1980s, and used for rescue, fishery inspection, research purposes and general EEZ patrol in Norwegian waters until the early 2020s. It is a class of ships purpose-built for the Norwegian Coast Guard with a secondary role as wartime naval escorts. The Norwegian Coast Guard is a part of the Royal Norwegian Navy, and has some police authority.
In June 2018 it was announced[1] that the Vard Group, a subsidiary of Fincantieri, would build three replacement vessels for NOK 5 billion;[2] delivery of the three new vessels started in 2023 with the final vessel envisaged in 2024.[3] As of November 2023, only Nordkapp remains operational, having been transferred to the Navy to fulfill a mine warfare command role. The other vessels have been decommissioned.[4]