MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay considers with “interest” British offer of three Royal Navy offshore patrol vessels

One of the vessels, the HMS Mersey, is a River-class offshore patrol vessel of the British Royal Navy

Uruguay's government is considering with “interest” a British offer to acquire three Royal Navy offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), according to El Observador, citing sources at the executive offices. The proposal involves first-generation River-class vessels — HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey, and HMS Severn — operational since 2003 and scheduled for decommissioning in 2028 as part of the British fleet renewal under NATO's defense spending commitments.

The offer has gained traction in recent weeks following the cancellation of a contract with Spanish shipyard Cardama, which left the Uruguayan Navy without a solution for its oceanic patrol capability gap. President Yamandú Orsi noted last week that the purchase would be conducted “country to country,” which he described as the “most interesting” format, rather than through contracts with private shipyards.

The three vessels measure 79.5 meters in length and displace 1,700 tons, specifications that meet the Uruguayan Navy's requirements for open-ocean operations beyond 100 nautical miles. However, according to El Observador, naval sources indicated the Navy will need to request detailed technical documentation on propulsion systems, electrical systems, weaponry, sensors, and spare parts before advancing negotiations.

Each vessel would cost approximately $20 million, according to El Observador's reporting. By comparison, Orsi indicated that a new OPV costs around $60 million. The government intends to equip the Navy with at least two offshore patrol vessels before the end of its term.

Separately, Uruguay confirmed to the United States its interest in acquiring a Reliance-class vessel offered as a donation by the U.S. embassy. The ship, which is not an OPV and lacks the capability for open-ocean navigation, would serve as an “interim solution” for coastal patrol duties, in Orsi's words. The U.S. embassy confirmed to El Observador that it received Uruguay's request and expects to continue the process.

The U.S. offer carries a complicated history. Former Navy Commander Jorge Wilson rejected the same proposal in 2022, noting the platforms were built in 1968 and had exceeded the age the Navy considers acceptable by a wide margin. The Defense Ministry estimates refurbishment costs of between $8 million and $15 million, based on a vessel of the same class transferred to Sri Lanka at an associated cost of $20 million in repairs and upgrades.

Another alternative considered was Navantia, Spain's main public shipyard, but sources close to the negotiations noted that the company's availability to build a vessel before 2030 is an obstacle, as its capacity is already committed.

Negotiations with the United Kingdom are being conducted under strict confidentiality. In government circles, the acquisition of used OPVs is seen as a short-term solution while progress is made toward incorporating new patrol vessels.