Hellenic Coast Guard OPV 050 Arkoi.

Hellenic Coast Guard Arkoi 050 returning from patrol in Aegean Sea, a Vosper Europatrol 250 Mk1 type Offshore Patrol Vessel.

The sole boat of the type in service with the Hellenic Coast Guard was ordered in 1993 and delivered in November 1994 to the boat Financial and Economic Crime Unit (SDOE) as A/L 50. In 2002 was transferred to the Hellenic Coast Guard and was renamed HCG 050 Arkoi. The boat suffered severe technical problems due to the weakness of the SDOE to fully exploit and preserve it sufficiently, so its use was extremely limited and remained immobile for long periods. However, in recognition of the contribution of the Hellenic Coast Guard to society, especially to the maritime sector, by providing protection of the marine environment and policing and surveillance of Greece’s maritime border, the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation and Panos and Thanassis Laskaridis, undertook the full repair, maintenance and activation of the HCG 050 Arkoi. On December 19, 2014, at the port of Piraeus, in the presence of the Minister of the Merchant Marine and the Aegean, Miltiades Varvitsiotis, the Hellenic Coast Guard held an award ceremony in honor of Mr. Panos Laskaridis and the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation, for this donation. The repair of boat was completed in December of 2015. The whole project came at a very crucial moment, as the 300 tons patrol ship, which was laid up since ten years ago, will be operated by the Coast Guard primarily in the eastern Aegean, where pressures from refugee and migrant flows are very large. The boat is not armed but there is a provision to mount an Oerlikon 20mm gun.

[stephencarey]

I worked for Vosper International Ltd (not Vosper Thornycroft) as Senior Consultant Marine Engineering and was with this boat throughout its design and build (Builder was McTay Marine of Birkenhead). I trained the Greek Customs engineering crew who were great lads, but hadn't a clue on how to operate what was to them a sophisticated vessel. It was very fast - 37knots as opposed to the 40knots claimed on the Coastguard website - and was a joy to drive.
The hull incorporates a system of tandem spray rails at the bow which cuts down a lot of the spray normally associated with fast patrol craft, such that it had three engines (triple screw) as opposed to the VT vessel of the same size which had 4 and was much slower; it slid through the water with ease. The wedge at the stern also acted as a planing hull aft, resulting in the impressive turn of speed for this size of vessel. Another novelty (which I hope they have kept) were the "anti-vibration caves" over the three propellers. With these out of operation, the noise in the steering flat was prohibitive, but once pressed up with air you could converse normally, and the after cabins were as quiet as the forward ones. Anyone who has served in naval patrol craft will know that the after cabins normally shake, rattle and roll through propeller vibration. On trials it was noted that the propellers suffered from almost instant cavitation, so cavitation holes were drilled in the root of the screws, and a compressed air system fitted in the steering flat to bleed air into the cavitation area. It worked.
It's very nostalgic for me to see this fine vessel underway again, thanks to the Coastguard benefactor who rescued her from the doldrums.
The hull is of steel plate, ordered as an "Airfix kit" from Centraalstaal of Holland, and was plated up on the frames in a single day. The superstructure is of aluminium, joined to the hull by a "Kelocouple", explosively bonded joint. She was going to have a 40mm gun on the foredeck (not a 20mm as above) but the Customs considered that if they fitted one, the opposition would go one better and fit a missile on their boats! Probably good thinking, as the contrabandists had more a money than the Customs service, despite it being part of the Ministry of Finance.

[sotirisgavrass]

θα ήθελα να σε ρωτήσω Aegean hawk, αν γνωρίζεις αν κάποιος από την ΑΕΝ μπόρει να μπεί στα ελικόπτερα  του ΛΣ, και αν χρειάζεται μεγάλο βαθμό διπλώματος.

[spiros]

Το παρατήρησα και στο προηγούμενο βίντεο...δεν έχουνε τα ραντάρ τους ανοιχτά ή μου φαίνεται..

[aibhcos]

φίλτατε Aegean hawk μιας και είσαι στο χώρο θα ήθελα να σε ρωτήσω τι γίνεσαι εάν πας από ΣΣΕ

[wudruffwildcard]

One of the biggest maritime forces in Europe and can't keep out the refugees in rubber dinghies. What a waste of money.