An order for what’s widely believed to be Norway’s new “spy ship” will likely secure jobs at a shipyard in the northwestern county of Møre og Romsdal well into 2014, reports newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN).
The STX OSV Langsten shipyard near Ålesund has secured the contract, valued at around NOK 1.2 billion, to build a replacement for what’s widely referred to as Norway’s “spy ship,” the Marjata. The new vessel has been ordered by the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation (NDLO).
STX OSV, which bills itself as one of the major global designers and builders of offshore and specialized vessels, calls the new ship a “research vessel” that will be around 125 meters long and 23 meters wide. Its pricetag, three times that of a new supertanker, reflects the highly advanced electronic equipment expected to be installed on board.
The Marjata has been used for military intelligence gathering and research in the northern areas, reports DN. It will be 19 years old and likely due for retirement with the new vessel is delivered by STX OSV at the end of 2014.
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