Antigua and Barbuda To Acquire New Offshore Patrol Vessel For the Coast Guard, ADBF Chief Confirms

Antigua and Barbuda’s Defence Force is pursuing the acquisition of a new offshore patrol vessel to strengthen the country’s maritime security capabilities, according to Talbert Benjamin, Chief of Defence Staff of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force.

Benjamin made the disclosure Friday during a national security press conference, responding to questions about the country’s maritime readiness amid heightened regional security concerns.

He said the ABDF Coast Guard’s current fleet consists mainly of interceptor-class vessels, which are designed for near-shore operations, and that efforts are underway to secure a larger offshore patrol vessel capable of extended surveillance and regional coordination.

Benjamin told reporters that the Defence Force has been engaging partners in the United States, as well as shipbuilders in Europe and India, as part of an ongoing evaluation process to determine the most suitable vessel.

He said the objective is not only to acquire a ship that meets Antigua and Barbuda’s operational needs, but one that can integrate effectively with regional and international partners during joint operations.

The Defence Force chief stressed that the process remains ongoing and that no final decision has been announced.

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