WASHINGTON -- On April 2, 2026, French shipbuilder SOCARENAM launched the third Castor-class coastal patrol vessel, BNS Vega (P-903), for the Belgian Navy. After launch, the vessel was floated out of the dry dock to commence the dockside fitting-out phase.
The Belgian Navy has already acquired two modern coastal patrol vessels under the Ready Duty Ship (RDS) program, selecting the French shipyard SOCARENAM for their construction. The first vessel, Castor (P-901), was delivered in July 2014, followed by Pollux (P-902) in April 2015. The vessels are based on the OPV 530 design by Mauric, a 53.5-meter multi-mission coastal patrol vessel constructed with a high-tensile steel hull and an aluminum superstructure.
According to the Belgian Armed Forces public release, BNS Vega will be an enhanced version of her sister vessels. She will also be equipped with an advanced anti-roll system that uses water tanks and bulkheads to improve stability in challenging sea conditions. BNS Vega is expected to be fully operational in 2027.
The Castor-class patrol vessels can perform a broad spectrum of missions, including monitoring Exclusive Economic Zones, fisheries inspection, environmental surveillance, search and rescue operations, migration-related interventions, protection of critical offshore energy and communication infrastructure, close observation of non-NATO vessels, and combating smuggling and other illegal activities.
