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Norway – Fleet Replenishment Ship (AOR) Rewritten – September 2006 Program Status: Planned.
Operational Requirement: The Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) has a requirement for a fleet replenishment ship (AOR) in order to conduct extended underway operations in support of joint/NATO operations as well as support the new fleet of Fridtjof Nansen class frigates that will enter service through 2009. Program Background: The RNoN began planning for a new class of two AORs in 2003. By 2005, the sea service decided split the AOR procurement into two programs, one as an AOR to support the new Fridtjof Nansen class frigates and the second as an auxiliary to support expeditionary operations. The second vessel will be a roll-on-roll-off cargo ship (AK) that will be addressed in a separate project report. In 2005, the RNoN announced that sea service had already begun the project definition phase for the AOR and the AK. Based on the 2005 timeline, a construction contract could be in place as early as 2008 and the AK in 2009. It is estimated that the new AOR will be procured by a private company and leased to the RNoN, similar to the Coast Guard OPV program. The vessel will probably be built in a foreign yard. Program Acquisition Plan: In 2005, the RNoN began the project definition phase for one new AOR to support the Fridtjof Nansen class frigates. AMI estimates that the sea service will decide on a design by the end of 2006 and select a private management company to procure and lease the vessel to the RNoN. The management company will probably release the construction Request for Proposal (RfP) by the close of 2007 in order to affect a construction contract by 2008. The new vessel should be complete by 2010 and will probably be leased to the RNoN for a period of 15 years. Based on these assumptions, a private management company will procure one AOR at an estimated cost of US$100M. Concept Start 2005 Concept Select 2006 Contract Design 2006 Construction Contract RfP 2007 Construction Contract Award 2008 First of Class Commissions 2010 Design and Construction Considerations: Design and construction considerations are based on the RNoN preliminary outline specification document dated 14 January 2004. The ship will have a full load displacement of 16,000 tons. It will also have a double hull design for added safety due to hazards of navigation in Norway’s narrow fjords as well as new European Union (EU) regulations. For replenishment operations, the vessel will probably have at least two replenishment stations on each side (two for fuel only, and two for stores) for the transfer of fuel, ammunition, cargo and provisions for the Fridtjof Nansen class. The AOR will also have a large flight deck and hangar for the operation and storage of a single medium-sized helicopter. Armament will be limited to small caliber crew served weapons. Designs on the international market that could become candidates for the Norwegian program include the German Berlin class, French Durance class, Italian Etna class, the Netherlands Amsterdam class or the Spanish Patino and Cantabria classes. Ship Characteristics:
Key Personnel: Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) Rear Admiral Jan Eirik Finseth
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