The Mexican Navy, through the Secretariat of the Navy, reports that the keel laying ceremony of the OPV2025 “Yucatán” Class Ocean Patrol Vessel was held at the facilities of Naval Shipyard Number One “Admiral José Luis Cubría Palma” on December 15. Located in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca; a symbolic act that begins the construction of seven ships of a new generation that will renew the naval fleet and strengthen the maintenance of the rule of law at sea.
This will be the first of its kind, built by Mexican engineering, as part of the strategic projects to boost Mexico’s naval power and the country’s development, of which three are planned for deployment on the Pacific coast and four in the Gulf of Mexico.
A vessel adapted to the country’s current needs, incorporating technologies such as solar panels and a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system with a total installed power of 15,700 kW (just over 21,000 horsepower). It features two electric motors powered by three 1,000 kW generator sets, allowing it to navigate at 11 knots for up to 25 days and over 6,000 nautical miles (75% of the time, according to its operational profile) using only two of these generator sets. When higher speeds are required, two 7,400 kW diesel engines (nearly 10,000 horsepower each) will engage, propelling it to speeds exceeding 30 knots. This extends its operational range, enhances maritime surveillance, optimizes emergency response, and reinforces the naval presence in areas of interest. A ship tailor-made for the Navy, and a Navy tailored to Mexico.
The ceremony was presided over by Admiral Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, Secretary of the Navy and Commander-in-Chief of the Mexican Navy, accompanied by Engineer Salomón Jara Cruz, Constitutional Governor of the state of Oaxaca, as well as naval and civil authorities; during which a commemorative plaque was unveiled and the project was presented.
During his speech, the Secretary of the Navy emphasized that this reaffirms the maritime vocation, strengthens the commitment, and modernizes the Institution’s capabilities to better serve the people of Mexico.
Furthermore, having well-equipped, functional, and strategically designed vessels makes it possible to fully exercise the Federal Navy’s power and uphold the rule of law in national waters, guaranteeing maritime surveillance, security on our coasts and in our ports, and the protection of national maritime interests. This is in accordance with the needs of a bi-oceanic country with 11,122 kilometers of coastline and more than 3 million square kilometers of Exclusive Economic Zone.
And that in each project, in each hull and in each weld, the work of engineers, technicians, specialists and naval personnel is reflected, turning innovation into reality, with state-of-the-art technology, sustainable processes and their own designs, thus reaffirming that Mexican shipbuilding is not an aspiration, it is a consolidated and expanding capacity, to consolidate Mexico as an Emerging Maritime Power.
It is important to clarify that these types of vessels operate for surveillance in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and their main functions include patrolling territorial waters to strengthen maritime sovereignty, promoting economic development, protecting marine resources, search, and rescue (SAR), supporting national security, among others.
In terms of technical specifications, this vessel will have a length of 79.5 meters, a beam of 11 meters, and a draft of 3.3 meters. It will have a crew of 60 naval personnel, be equipped with an interceptor boat, and feature a semi-retractable hangar to house a helicopter.
It is worth mentioning that the construction process consists of four stages: Keel Laying and Construction, Launching, Preparation and Flagging.
Through the Naval Industry, this Institution reaffirms that it is a Navy tailored to Mexico, committed to maintaining the rule of law and the security of Mexican seas, as well as contributing to national development, adapting to the needs of the country.