The new vessels will be an improved version of the OPV Turva, which entered service in 2014. (Janes/John Pagni)

The Finnish Border Guard (FBG) has awarded a contract to Meyer Turku for two new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).

The new vessels will be an improved variant of the OPV Turva, which was commissioned into FBG service in 2014 as the world's first LNG coastguard ship.

Under the terms of the contract, signed on 29 June, the first new OPV is expected to be completed in 2025, and the second boat in 2026. They are intended to replace three older OPVs: Merikarhu, Tursas, and Uisko, and will have an expected service life that extends into the 2050s.

Based on Turva's specifications, the two new OPVs are expected to be 96 m long with a 5 m draft and a top speed of 18 kt to navigate Finland's 4,600 km irregular coastline that is dotted with islands, islets, and skerries.

In winter, Turva

Imagery of Severodvinsk harbour in the Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, dated 24 June, shows the Project 885M Severodvinsk (Yasen)-class SSGN Krasnoyarsk (centre) being prepared to commence sea trials on 26 June. Krasnoyarsk is flanked by the Project 885M submarine Novosibirsk (right) and the Project 955A Dolgorukiy (Borey)-class SSBN Generalissimus Suvorov (left). (©CNES 2002, Distribution AIRBUSDS/SkyWatch Space Applications Inc/Tony Roper)

The Project 885M Severodvinsk (Yasen)-class nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine (SSGN) Krasnoyarsk (K 571) has departed Severodvinsk for its first set of sea trials in the White Sea.

Photographs on social media showing Krasnoyarsk leaving the harbour area confirms the submarine's departure on 26 June.

Krasnoyarsk is the fourth Project 885 (and the third 885M) submarine under construction at Sevmash Shipyard and is predicted to join the Pacific Fleet, joining the SSGN fleet comprised of mostly Project 949A Oscar II-class boats.

Krasnoyarsk had been captured on satellite imagery the week prior to heading out to sea being degaussed in the harbour area. Other imagery shows the submarine undergoing final preparations alongside another Project 885M – likely to be Novosibirsk

Australia's DoD said it will assess potential defects of Guardian-class patrol vessels donated to Pacific Island countries. Ted Diro (pictured above) is the first of four vessels for Papua New Guinea. (Austal)

Australia's Department of Defence (DoD) and shipbuilder Austal are flying specialists to several Pacific Island countries to assess possible technical defects of Guardian-class patrol boats designed, built, and donated by Canberra, the DoD disclosed on 1 July.

The DoD said in a statement that the primary issue involved a potential fault in the vessels' exhaust systems. It said other issues that had emerged during the past 16 months included cracking in the coupling between the engine and the gearbox, and sickbay ventilation.

“Austal and [DoD] representatives will soon travel to Pacific Island nations to assess all vessels and work with Pacific Island countries on temporary rectification measures ahead of a longer-term solution,” the DoD statement said. Each country would make its own decision whether to operate its vessels or pause operations, it added.