Finland to build two new ships to protect Balticconnector gas pipeline

The Finnish Coast Guard will receive two new ships to protect the Balticconnector underwater gas pipeline.

"Due to damage to the gas pipeline and data cables in the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish Border Guard's patrol ship Turva will soon be joined by two new patrol ships," iltalehti.fi reports.

The construction of the first of them should be completed in 2025, the second - in 2026.

The new vessels will replace patrol ships built more than thirty years ago, some of which have already been decommissioned.

According to the head of the project, Captain Marco Acheristo, the ships will be 98 meters long and 17.6 meters wide. They will carry weapons of up to 30 millimetres calibre and helipads. The ships are expected to be involved in border control and rescue operations.