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| HCG080 (ΛΣ 080) Agios Efstratios Sa'ar 4 OPV |
This is my first photo gallery about a Coast Guard patrol vessel. In this post, you will enjoy some good photos I took some days ago when I visited the HCG080 (ΛΣ 080) Agios Efstratios, the latest of the three 58-meter Sa'ar class offshore patrol vessels (Περιπολικό Ανοικτής Θαλάσσης, ΠΑΘ) that serve with the Hellenic Coast Guard (Λιμενικό Σώμα - Ελληνική Ακτοφυλακή). These patrol vessels are the the most heavily armed boats currently in the Hellenic Coast Guard inventory. The
ships are based on the former Sa'ar 4 fast attack missile craft of the Israeli
Navy. The contract for the procurement of the ships was
signed on November 11, 2002. This was the first Israeli naval sale to a European Union country. The
first two ships, Fournoi and Ro, were built in Israel by the Israel
Shipyards Ltd and they were delivered in December 2003 and March 2004,
respectively. The third vessel, Agios Efstratios, was built in Greece by the Hellenic Shipyards S.A and was delivered in June of 2004. I would really like to thank the crew for the excellent tour aboard this very well-maintained ship and of the major vessels of Greece's Coast Guard. Enjoy the photos!