©Antoine Bordeix
On Friday, September 11, on the Kership Lorient Shipyard in Lanester, KERSHIP launched the PETAR NJEGOS I, the first of the two offshore patrol vessels built for the Montenegrin Navy. This major milestone marks the transition to a new phase in the vessel’s construction.
This launching rewards the total engagement of the KERSHIP’s teams and its industrial partners, foremost among which Piriou.
”The launch of PETAR NJEGOS I is a
great source of pride for the teams at KERSHIP. It marks the successful outcome of the work
undertaken with our Montenegrin partners and demonstrates the ability of our naval industry
to design and build defence vessels in France tailored to the specific needs of foreign navies.
Beyond the vessel itself, this programme illustrates the strength of a partnership based on
trust, industrial excellence and a shared ambition to contribute to maritime sovereignty and the
security of Europe.”
— Marie-Eugénie COTELLE, Président of KERSHIP
A ceremony highlighting Franco-Montenegrin cooperation
©Antoine Bordeix
The ceremony was attended by numerous Montenegrin and French dignitaries, including Mr. Aleksa Bečić, Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro; Mr. Dragan Krapović, Minister of Defence of Montenegro; Ms. Dubravka Lalović, Ambassador of Montenegro to France; Ms. Cécile Humbert-Bouvet, Ambassador of France to Montenegro; and Mr. Gaël Diaz de Tuesta, General Engineer of Armament at the French Directorate General of Armament (DGA), alongside representatives of the French and Montenegrin authorities and local elected officials.
Their presence reflects the importance of this programme and the quality of the cooperation established between France and Montenegro.
©Antoine Bordeix
With the construction of these two OPV 60 , KERSHIP is contributing to the reinforcement of the Montenegrin Navy’s maritime capabilities. For the Lanester shipyard, this programme also represents a major achievement and illustrates the expertise of the teams involved in the construction of military vessels.
Following this launching, integration and outfitting work will continue afloat , before the testing phases and its scheduled delivery in spring 2027