Danish manufacturer VIKING announces contract for seven patrol boats for Greece

Danish maritime safety and defence equipment manufacturer VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has signed a contract for seven high-speed patrol boats for the Hellenic Coast Guard, maritime news portal Maritime.bg reported, citing the company. According to VIKING, the €23.8 million deal was signed through its Greek subsidiary, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment Hellas, at a ceremony in Athens. The information comes from the manufacturer. At the time of publication, Flank had found no independent confirmation of the contract.

Construction in Greece and an option for seven more boats

According to VIKING's announcement, all seven VIKING Norsafe Magnar 1950 boats will be built at the company's production facility in Greece. The manufacturer expects initial deliveries to begin within six to twelve months, with the boats then handed over in sequence. The starting date for this period has not been specified.

The company also states that there is an option for up to seven additional boats of the same type. This allows the order to be expanded but does not mean that a total of 14 vessels have been contracted. Danish manufacturer VIKING Life-Saving Equipment says funding for the deal is being provided under the European co-funded Fisheries, Aquaculture and Sea 2021–2027 programme, which forms part of Greece's Public Investment Programme. The information was relayed by maritime publication Maritime.bg.

The announced sum works out at an average of €3.4 million per boat. This is not an established price for an individual vessel, as no detailed breakdown of the contract is available.

At least 50 knots for patrol and rescue duties

According to the manufacturer, the boats are 21.29 metres long, have a maximum speed of at least 50 knots and a range of more than 320 nautical miles. VIKING specifies a crew of six, capacity to carry at least 30 people, and navigation and communications systems, without naming specific models.

The company's press release, published by specialist naval publication Naval News, lists the boats' duties as surveillance of Greek waters, maritime border protection, fisheries control, and search and rescue.

In Flank's assessment, the combination of high speed and carrying capacity could help the boats reach an incident area quickly and evacuate people. However, the stated range does not mean that a boat can cover that distance at maximum speed. The manufacturer does not specify the speed, load or sea conditions under which the range was achieved. These factors are important when assessing the boats' actual capabilities.

Reports give differing details on the signing date

The announcement was published on 9 November 2026 by specialist naval and maritime news publication Naval Today, but no exact date for the signing of the contract is given. as the date of signing at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy in Athens. VIKING's announcement, published by Naval News, describes the ceremony but does not give an exact date.

Both publications use information from the manufacturer and therefore do not constitute separate, independent confirmations. Flank has found neither an original contract document in a Greek public procurement register nor a statement issued by the Greek authorities confirming the date and contract value.