The event was held in accordance with the terms of the contract for the construction and supply of twenty patrol boats for Ukrainian border guards concluded between the Administration of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the French company «OC

The working group representatives of the Ukrainian Border Guard Agency are currently supervising the construction in France.

On February 18th, the head of the working group, Captain 1st Rank Vladyslav Smirnov and the Production and Quality Director of OCEA Luke Bulestre signed the acceptance of the hull of the first FPB 98 MKI patrol boat for the SBGS Marine Guard.

In addition, during the visit, representatives of the State Border Guard Service are exploring the production capacities of the company, checking the readiness and construction of other laid down hulls. It should be noted that five more hulls for special purpose patrol boats designated for providing maritime safety and protection of maritime borders are currently under construction, and one of them is already completed by 60%.

In addition, the readiness of OCEA to accept a working group to oversee the construction of boats is reviewed. A group of experts is expected to travel to the French city of Les Sables-d'Olonne in spring to provide ongoing feedback and continuity of construction.

Members of the Ukrainian team scheduled to travel to France will oversee the construction stages of patrol boats, coordinate the relevant documentation, participate in factory, mooring, and sea trials, as well as other inspections related to the construction of boats, their equipping and completing.

It will be recalled that on July 22, 2020, a contract was signed for the implementation of the Ukrainian-French project to strengthen the maritime security and border protection system of Ukraine. As a result, Ukraine will receive modern boats for the protection of the state border, will acquire modern technologies in shipbuilding, which in the future will enable to independently service the ships and boats and develop its own production. The French OSEA company chose the Nibulon shipbuilding company from Nikolaev as the Ukrainian partner. In general, the project envisages the construction of 20 state-of-the-art patrol boats for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine within three years; a quarter of the order will be fulfilled by a domestic enterprise using French technologies.