Iliria is an Iliria-class patrol vessel of the Albanian Coast Guard, built in Gorinchem, Netherlands by Damen Group.[1] The class takes the name of the ship itself as it is its first. While the name itself is based on Illyria, an ancient region where today's Albania is part.
The ship was commissioned and entered in service in 2008.
 Albanian Coast Guard patrol vessel Iliria.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Albania | |
| Name | Iliria |
| Builder | Damen Group, Netherlands |
| Launched | 28 May 2007 |
| Commissioned | 2008 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Iliria-class |
| Length | 42.8 m (140 ft) |
| Beam | 7.1 m (23 ft) |
| Speed | 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) |
| Complement | 17 |
First of class
editIn 2007, Damen Shipyard in Gorinchem, Netherlands was awarded a 31 million euros contract to build four patrol vessels.[2][3][4] Most of the funding would be provided by the Albanian government through the Ministry of Defense and 35% of it would be supported through a grant from the Dutch Government.[2] The Iliria-class design is based on Damen Stan 4207 patrol vessel. The first ship Iliria bears the name of the class itself as it is its first and is the only one built in the Netherlands, while the other three were built locally in Pashaliman Shipyard with the assistance of the company itself.[5]
The ship was delivered to Albania in August 2008 with a ceremony held in the port of Durres and entered service a few weeks later on September 5 of the same year.[1][6]
Construction and capabilities
edit
Iliria is the first of the patrol vessels with its 42.8 meters long overall and a 7.11 beam, part of the fleet of the Albanian Coast Guard.[7][8] It was built in 2008 at Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands unlike its three sister boats of the same class that were built locally under license in Pashaliman Shipyard, near Vlorë.[9] She has a steel hull with an aluminum superstructure with a 240 gross tonnage (GT) and a 75 net tonnage (NT). She is equipped with a stern launching ramp, capable of deploying and retrieving a 7-meter Rigid Inflatable Boat, for rescue or pursuit.[10]
Built to withstand missions from 7 to 14 days at a range of 1800 nautical miles at 12 knots and it is suitable for Albania given its 225-mile coastline and its Coast Guard mission. It can reach a standard speed of 12 knot (unit)s which in some cases can go up to 26 knots making it suitable for the pursuit of other watercraft in case of need.[7]
Propulsion
editThe ship is propelled by two controllable pitch propellers driven by two Caterpillar 3516B TA-HD diesel engines rated at 4,200 kW (5,600 hp) which are geared by two Reintjes WLS 930.[7] The patrol vessel is also equipped with two Caterpillar C4.4 generators. The vessel has a maximum speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph). Iliria has a fuel capacity of 23 m3 (5,100 imp gal) giving the vessel a range of 1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km; 2,100 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and an endurance of up to 150 hours. [5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Iliria to Albania: ship delivery". TOS - People & Ship Delivery. 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
- ^ a b "Kantieri i Ndërtimit të Anijeve në Pashaliman" [Pashaliman Shipyard]. Albanian Armed Forces (in Albanian). May 21, 2014.
- ^ "Second Damen Patrol Vessel delivered to Albanian Coast Guard | JOC.com". www.joc.com. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ "Albania Adds New Patrol Ship to Navy". Balkan Insight. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ a b ""Oriku" – "Lissus" – "Butrinti"" (PDF). Damen Group.
- ^ "Kremtohet 10-vjetori i anijes "Iliria P-131"" [Iliria Anniversary]. Albanian Armed Forces (in Albanian). September 9, 2018.
- ^ a b c Velasco, Angela, ed. (2009). Significant Small Ships 2008. London: Royal Institution of Naval Architects. pp. 31–32. ISBN 978-1905040520.
- ^ Një ditë në anijen e patrullimit "Butrinti P134" [A day on the patrol boat "Butrinti P134"] (Top Channel) (in Albanian). Albania. 14 August 2018. Event occurs at 11 minutes.
- ^ "Albanian CG Receives Second Damen Stan Patrol Vessel 'Oriku'". Naval Today. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
- ^ Polak, Nathan M.; Hendrickson, Ryan C.; Garrett, Nathan G. D. (2009-11-30). "NATO Membership for Albania and Croatia: Military Modernization, Geo-Strategic Opportunities and Force Projection". The Journal of Slavic Military Studies. 22 (4): 502–514. doi:10.1080/13518040903355745. ISSN 1351-8046.