The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) has secured three offshore patrol vessels under a new framework contract, maintaining the agency’s current enforcement capacity.
The three Portuguese-flagged vessels – Ocean Guardian, Ocean Protector and Ocean Sentinel – were chartered from subcontractors Sentinel Offshore Vessels Limited, Cyan Sentinel Limited, and Sentinel Marine Netherlands for a four-year period. According to EFCA, the vessels are Multi-Role Emergency Response and Rescue Vessels (ERRV) measuring 62 meters in length.
The three vessels will be the only seaborne patrol assets controlled directly by EFCA, and they will be utilized under joint deployment plans with European Union member states. While the primary mission will be fisheries enforcement, the vessels can also support other maritime operations and drills, according to EFCA.
“Their operational capabilities enable them to support a wide range of tasks, including search and rescue, maritime surveillance and pollution response, reinforcing a more coordinated and efficient EU presence at sea,” EFCA said in a release. “Their deployment reflects EFCA’s continued commitment to providing reliable and high-quality operational support to Member States, while ensuring the sustainable use and protection of marine resources.”
EFCA first secured three offshore patrol vessels in 2023 as part of the agency’s efforts to strengthen its operational capacity at sea under the E.U.s Common Fisheries Policy.
