Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with the Lithuanian Navy for a Pollution Incident Response and Search and Rescue (SAR) vessel based on the Damen Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) 6711. The public procurement was organised by the Environmental Projects Management Agency under the Ministry of Environment. Operated by the Lithuanian Navy, the vessel will replace an existing unit in the fleet and significantly strengthen Lithuania’s ability to respond to emergencies at sea.
The ceremonial signing event took place in Vilnius on 29 October 2026 with a signature by Robertas Kaunas, Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence; Ieva Andriulaitytė, Minister of Environment, on behalf of the Lithuanian Ministry of Environment; Gvidas Dargužas, Director of the Environmental Projects Management Agency, on behalf of the Environmental Projects Management Agency; General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Chief of Defence of Lithuania; Captain (Navy) Tadas Jablonskis, Commander of the Lithuanian Navy; H.E. Caecilia T. M. Wijgers, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and Bram Langeveld, Damen Chief Commercial Officer, on behalf of Damen.
The new vessel will support the Lithuanian Navy in pollution response, search and rescue and a broad range of other maritime security tasks. The OPV 6711 is a proven and versatile platform that can be tailored to a wide range of operational profiles.
Combined capabilities
The vessel brings several essential capabilities together in a single hull. Its primary missions will be pollution incident response, supported by a FiFi 1 firefighting system and DP1 dynamic positioning.
Search and rescue missions are supported by two davit-launched boats that will be carried onboard. The vessel can accommodate up to 50 survivors, with medical care provided in a dedicated onboard treatment facility.
A large working deck with a centreline crane allows operations on either side of the vessel. The deck offers storage for up to six 20-foot containers of 15 tonnes each, served by a container transfer system located below the helicopter deck.
The helicopter deck is suitable for a wide range of helicopters up to the size of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, enabling evacuation, including MEDEVAC, and vertical replenishment (VERTREP) missions. A lowered platform at the stern allows the vessel to conduct emergency towing.
From left to right: Gvidas Dargužas (Director of the Environmental Projects Management Agency), Captain (Navy) Tadas Jablonskis (Commander of the Lithuanian Navy), H.E. Caecilia T. M. Wijgers (Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Bram Langeveld (Damen Chief Commercial Officer); Ieva Andriulaitytė (Minister of Environment); Robertas Kaunas (Minister of National Defence)
Modular mission capability for the future
Beyond these core roles, the vessel’s potential for container-based mission system gives the Lithuanian Navy a modular future ready capability. The OPV 6711 can also embark a wide range of containerised mission modules in various domains – for example for unmanned systems, mine countermeasures, hydrographic survey, command and control, diving support, medical support or humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). As such, the vessel is a first step towards a future, highly flexible naval force in which the Navy, operating jointly with the wider Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Performance and seakeeping
The 67.3-metre OPV 6711 combines a top speed of 23 knots with a range of 8,000 nautical miles. With a total crew capacity of 24, the vessel offers accommodation for additional personnel, such as embarked mission specialists. Damen’s Sea Axe bow ensures comfortable and efficient operations in demanding sea states, while the ice-class 1D hull is designed for operations in Baltic conditions.