Senegal has been presented with its second Walo-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV). The vessel, named Niani, was accepted on 14 November 2023 in Concarneau, Brittany, by Senegalese Defence Minister El Hadji Omar Youm, who was on his first trip abroad following his inauguration on 12 October.
Niani follows first-of-class Walo, which was delivered in June 2023, while third and final vessel of a construction programme agreed in 2019, Cayor, was launched in Concarneau on 2 May this year and is currently undergoing final outfitting.
The three vessels are based on the OPV 58 S design from Kership: a joint venture between France’s Naval Group and Piriou shipyards.
The Walo class has an overall length of 62.2 m, a full-load displacement of 600 tonnes, a top speed of 21 kt, and a range of 4,500 n miles at 12 kt. The vessel has a crew of 36 and can accommodate an additional 12 personnel.
Characteristics of the OPV 58 S design are a steel hull with aluminium superstructure, a 360° panoramic bridge and a stern ramp for the use of two rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs). Two 20 ft (6.1 m) containers can be stored on the aft deck.
With these three OPVs the Senegalese Navy is receiving its first missile-carrying units, as the ships are armed with four MBDA Marte Mk 2/N surface-to-surface missiles as well as a Leonardo 76/62 Super Rapid medium-calibre gun, an MDBA Simbad-RC short-range air defence system with twin launchers for Mistral 3 missiles, two 20 mm Nexter Narwhal remotely controlled weapon systems, and two 12.7 mm machine guns.
