The Diplomat
The Angolan government is studying the purchase from Navantia of up to six patrol boats for the Angolan Navy and the complete refit of two other vessels that the country already has and which are currently in disuse.
Last Wednesday, during a business meeting in Luanda, coinciding with the visit of the King and Queen of Spain to Angola, the president of Navantia, Ricardo Domínguez, assured that the negotiation was “technically resolved”, and the agreement was pending the Angolan authorities achieving the necessary financing from the Spanish government, through the Secretary of State for Trade.
Although the visit of the King and Queen of Spain, who attended the business forum together with the President of Angola, João Lourenço, has been an important boost, Navantia sources consulted by The Diplomat insisted, however, that the agreement cannot be considered closed yet.
In any case, they acknowledged that Angola is very willing to acquire a first package of three patrol boats, followed by another three and, in addition, the modernisation of two of the four vessels that Bazán, the former Navantia, sold to the Angolan Navy in the 1990s and which are in need of a major refit.
According to La Voz de Cádiz, the construction of the six patrol boats and the refit of the other two vessels would be carried out at the San Fernando factory between 2024 and 2028. The Spanish shipyard would also provide crew training and technical advice.
The Government of Angola intends to improve the surveillance of its fishing grounds and is in favour of the Avante 700 model. This is a vessel designed by Navantia and belongs to a family of six types ranging from the Avante 300 to the Avante 3000.
Navantia is confident that, if the agreement with Angola materialises, it will be a turning point that will allow the company to win contracts in neighbouring countries.
