Norway to Split Purchase of Up to 20 Standardized Vessels into Two Contracts

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) reported that it will split the acquisition of up to 20 standardized ocean-going vessels intended for Norway, the United Kingdom and Lithuania into two separate contracts, under the P1118 project. One contract will cover up to 14 naval vessels and the other up to six vessels for the Norwegian Coast Guard, and they will be developed through parallel competitive tracks.

Within the naval batch, Norway would receive up to four vessels, the United Kingdom up to six, and Lithuania up to four, all figures presented as maximums. NDMA Director General Gro Jære explained that by splitting the acquisition into two contracts, they aim to enable broad industry participation, reduce risks and ensure solid execution.

State Secretary Marte Gerhardsen noted that they chose to start with the large, ocean-going vessels in order to move forward while addressing the needs of allies the United Kingdom and Lithuania, leaving the development of the smaller vessels for later. Contract award is expected in 2027, with first delivery around 2030, according to both sources.

The NDMA will start with the ocean-going variant, approximately 90 meters in length overall, as it is at a more advanced stage of development than the 55-meter coastal concept. Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace and Salt Ship Design were selected in March to develop the design concept for up to 28 Norwegian vessels, and Lithuania joined the project through a memorandum of understanding signed with Norway on July 8.

Suppliers may qualify for one of the two tracks or for both, but no single bidder will be awarded both contracts. With this approach, the agency seeks to foster competition and diversify the supplier base among shipyards in Norway and other European countries.