Vard Marine has received a contract for the design of an Amphibious and Military Sea Transport Ship for the Chilean Navy Escotillón IV Program.
Vard Marine Inc has been awarded the contract to design an Amphibious and Military Transport Vessel for the Chilean Navy by ASMAR Shipbuilding & Ship Repair Company. The ships will be constructed at the ASMAR shipyard in Talcahuano, Chile. These multi-role vessels will be capable of operating throughout the Pacific and Southern Ocean with services to include logistic support, search and rescue (SAR) missions, troop and asset movement and deployment, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
The new vessel will be based on existing Vard Series 7 designs and will be specially adapted to the specific requirements of the Chilean Navy, incorporating the latest generation of integrated well-dock systems enabling the carriage and deployment of a wide range of containerised and vehicle cargo, landing craft, helicopters and rescue boats, for logistics, SAR and HADR missions.
Wade Carson, president of Vard Marine Inc, said: “This program will be our fourth successful collaboration with ASMAR, including the design of the venerable AP 41 Aquiles, one of the vessels that, after an accomplished and storied career, the Escotillón IV Program will replace.
“Vard Marine has a long and successful history of designing specialised vessels tailored to meet unique combinations of user requirements and operational environments. This contract award is an important step in further solidifying Vard Marine’s standing in the global naval market as a proven designer of client-focused specialised multi-role vessels. We very much look forward to working with our friends at ASMAR Shipbuilding & Ship Repair Company in bringing a vital capability to the Armada de Chile.”