The contract signing ceremony for the construction of six new 3rd Series ocean patrol vessels took place today, December 29th, at Casa da Balança, located in the Central Naval Installations, in Lisbon.
Present at the signing of the contract were the Secretary of State for National Defense, Carlos Lopes Pires, the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, the President of the National Defense Commission, Marcos Perestello, General Director of Resources of the National Defense, Vasco Hilário, among other entities.
The Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Gouveia e Melo, in his speech, recognized that “today is another remarkable day for the Portuguese Navy” because “it materializes the vision of a comprehensive Navy (…) with the capacity to protect and promote the interests of Portugal in and through the sea”.
In his speech he also highlighted that the six ships will be “modular and capable of effectively performing anti-submarine functions, transporting personnel, operating bases for surface, submarine and aerial drones, and will also be auxiliary ships for combating maritime pollution. ”
For the Secretary of State for National Defense, Carlos Lopes Pires, this financial investment “significantly reinforces the operational capabilities of the Navy in the challenges of the present and the future”