Latvia Commissions Estonia-Modernized Patrol Boat Barta

The modernized patrol boat Barta was officially commissioned into service with Latvia’s State Border Guard during a flag-raising ceremony in the Latvian city of Liepaja.

The Estonian company Baltic Workboats, which carried out the repair and modernization of the vessel, announced this.

According to the company, Barta is a “second-life” vessel originally built in 2016 by Damen and fully refurbished at the Baltic Workboats shipyard. As part of the comprehensive modernization, the patrol boat received an extended operational life.

“The ceremony marked the successful completion of the project and demonstrated the growing role of modernization in our portfolio—extending the service life of existing vessels while meeting modern operational and sustainability requirements,” the company shared.

Barta

Previously known as Osamede, Barta was the fourth FCS 3307 patrol boat built by Damen.

Constructed in 2015 at Damen Shipyard in Singapore, the vessel was originally named Defender IX and owned by Strickland Services of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Strickland Services operated a fleet of at least ten FCS 3307 vessels under contracts to protect oil and gas facilities in Nigerian waters.

The vessel arrived in Cape Town from Nigeria in July 2022, where it was offered for sale, with ownership of Osamede reverting to Damen.
The specific modifications made by the Estonian shipbuilders are not reported. In its standard configuration, the FCS 3307 patrol boat is 33 meters long and has a displacement of 168 tons.

It is powered by three Caterpillar C32 ACERT main engines — 12-cylinder, four-stroke units rated at 1,600 hp (1,193 kW) each. The engines drive three propellers, giving the vessel an operating speed of 30 knots. All vessels in this class feature the Damen Sea Axe bow design, which improves seakeeping.

Auxiliary equipment on the FCS 3307 includes two Caterpillar C4.4T generators rated at 59 kW each. To enhance maneuverability, the vessel is fitted with a 75 kW bow thruster. Firefighting equipment is also installed, including a monitor with a capacity of 180 cubic meters per hour.

The FCS 3307 has a range of 1,200 nautical miles at a sustained speed of 30 knots. The aft working deck covers an area of 75 square meters and has a permissible deck load of 2.5 tons per square meter for deck cargo.

The vessel’s core crew consists of six people, with accommodation available for an additional 12 personnel from an inspection or boarding team. For patrol missions, the boat can be fitted with machine-gun mounts, while the bridge can be armored and equipped with ballistic windows.