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STX Finland Oy and the Finnish Border Guard have signed an agreement for the construction of a next-generation offshore patrol vessel which will run on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The vessel will be built at the STX Rauma ship­yard and delivered to the customer in November 2013. It will be 96 metres long, 17 metres wide and will be capable of carrying out a variety of functions.

According to STX Finland, construction of the vessel will bring over 400 man-years of labour to STX Rauma shipyard personnel and its supplier network. The domestic content of the project is estimated to be 90 percent.

The main duty of the offshore patrol vessel will be to operate in open sea patrol. In addition to ensuring border safety and serving defence purposes, the vessel will be used for other functions such as prevention of environmental damage, search and rescue, and different underwater assignments.

The vessel will use the latest technologies and environmentally friendly innovations. It will be equipped with machinery, use LNG and marine diesel as fuel and be capable of operating in Baltic Sea ice conditions.

Commenting on the issue of energy efficiency, STX Finland said: "The requirements of energy efficiency and safe operation of the vessel in different accident situations have been taken extensively into account in the design of this environmentally friendly vessel."

"This order is very important for STX Finland and the Rauma shipyard. The building of this ship offers us excellent opportunities for implementation and further development of environmentally friendly technologies," said Timo Suistio, EVP & COO of STX Finland and Director of STX Rauma Shipyard.

"Ships built for the Finnish Border Guard and Navy are an important part of STX Finland's continuous develop­ment and introduction of new technologies," Suistio added.