GDF’s new patrol vessel to arrive this month – Chief of Staff

Guyana’s capacity to monitor its maritime borders will be significantly bolstered with the arrival to local shores, later this month, of a brand-new Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), which was built by United States-based Metal Shark Boats for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Omar Khan disclosed that this acquisition was part of efforts to modernise and expand the army to meet future defence and security needs – a huge aspect of which is to boost its assets.
“We are expecting a maritime asset, and that maritime asset has departed for Guyana and should be arriving mid-this month. That was a multi-year project where a new asset was being built and will be assigned to the [GDF] Coast Guard as part of their responsibility of managing our maritime areas of operation,” the Army Chief stated.
Brigadier Khan was at the time speaking at a media briefing alongside the Commander of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Air Force arm, Major General Evan Pettus, who wrapped up a three-day visit to Guyana on Friday.
The Chief of Staff told Guyana Times that in preparation for the arrival of this patrol vessel, GDF ranks have been undergoing training over the past three years on operating the OPV.
Similarly, he disclosed, training is also being conducted in anticipation of the Guyanese army’s air assets being enhanced.
“Obviously, when a capability or asset is acquired, there’s still training and support mechanisms. So, we have planned for that already,” Brigadier Khan stated.
The Guyana Government has heavily invested in boosting the country’s defensive capacity. In fact, a significant portion of the $1.146 trillion Budget 2024, from which the GDF alone received $42.2 billion, has gone towards building the technical capability and assets of the local security sector.

New helicopters
Efforts are already underway to procure four new helicopters that will not only be used by the GDF, but also the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Back in October 2020, the US State Department had approved the sale of four helicopters and related equipment to Guyana to the tune of US$256 million.
Last November, Government had approached the National Assembly for additional monies to support the procurement of the OPV for the GDF, along with other expenses.
Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh had told the National Assembly that the money would be used to help develop the Information and Communications Technology capacity of the Force and also cover additional expenses for the completion, transportation, and delivery of the OPV.
More details were also provided to the House about the building works the GDF plans to accomplish with the $563 million that was eventually approved.
Only in December 2023, eight bids were opened by the National Procurement and Tender Board Administration (NPTAB) for the construction of a new reinforced concrete wharf at the Coast Guard Headquarters at Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The wharf, which is being built to accommodate the new vessels being acquired by the GDF, is estimated to cost some $2 billion.

Metal Shark Boats
Back in October 2023, Metal Shark Boats said the 115-foot Defiant patrol vessel earmarked for Guyana, dubbed the “GDFS Berbice”, was completed and had departed it Louisiana production facility in the US. The vessel had travelled to the company’s Bayou La Batre shipyard in Alabama, US – from where it would leave for Guyana’s shores.
Metal Shark Chief Executive Officer Chris Allard had said that the vessel would play a key role in helping to protect Guyana’s oil and gas industry.
In August last year, President Dr Irfaan Ali said that the vessel being procured from Metal Shark would also help Guyana in patrolling the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) against illegal fishing. He pointed out that Guyana has been losing significant revenue from illegal fishing in its EEZ, a problem that is being dealt with through the modernisation and outfitting of the GDF with a wide range of marine and aviation equipment.
“We’re already in discussions with different stakeholders on a mother ship that would help us in securing our EEZ and ensuring that the commercial value of our EEZ is not exploited without us having a presence there. And that is what the Beechcraft would allow us to do,” the Guyanese Head of State had noted.
He added, “When outfitted with additional equipment and the Dornier, when that comes into the fleet, [it] will help us to tremendously secure our EEZ. We know from information that is being shared with us that we’re losing a lot of revenue with illegal fishing within our EEZ. So, the commercial viability of the investment is one that is also taken into consideration.”
Meanwhile, this new OPV is the ninth Metal Shark vessel to join the current active GDF Coast Guard fleet.
According to the US-based boatbuilder, the vessel can accommodate 24 crewmembers, storage and launch/recovery facilities for a small outboard-powered rigid inflatable boat (RIB), and mounts for automatic weapons.
The aluminium hull features a reverse-raked bow offering reduced resistance for improved seakeeping in higher sea states. There are also multiple watertight bulkheads and oversized scantlings throughout the hull. All integrated tanks and machinery areas are accessible via watertight hatches.
Equipped with twin Caterpillar C32 1600hp (1193kW) engines for economical long-range missions, GDFS Berbice boasts a range of 2000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12 knots as well as top speeds in excess of 20 knots. This means the vessel is able to remain out at sea for up to 10 days. Crewmembers will also be able to traverse the vessel, day or night, even in adverse weather conditions, with the added protection of a prominent breakwater.
Facilities aboard the vessel include crews’ quarters, toilets with showers, a galley, and separate mess areas for officers and enlisted sailors.
Early last month, President Ali had said there were active plans to step up spending in the security sector, not only on hardware but human resources.
This comes on the heels of the heightened tensions last December with neighbouring Venezuela, which is laying claims to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass — the Essequibo and a portion of its EEZ, where oil production activities are ongoing.
But the Guyanese Leader has made it clear that these efforts are merely aimed at bolstering the country’s defence capability and not for any acts of aggression.
President Ali and his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, had agreed “not to threaten or use force against one another” during the historic face-to-face meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines on December 14, 2023. (G8)