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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, April 5th 2026 - 12:28 UTC

Tag: Uruguayan Navy

  • Friday, March 27th 2026 - 19:50 UTC

    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.

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  • Thursday, March 19th 2026 - 22:59 UTC

    Uruguay to seek damages after Spanish shipyard Cardama fails to appeal OPV contract termination

    The contract, signed under the administration of former president Luis Lacalle Pou, provided for the construction of two OPV vessels for Uruguay’s Navy

    Spanish shipyard Cardama did not file an appeal against the Uruguayan government’s decision to terminate the contract for the purchase of two offshore patrol vessels for the Navy, meaning the measure is now final and the Ministry of Defence will move ahead with a claim for damages. The confirmation came on Thursday from Presidential Secretary Jorge Díaz.

  • Monday, October 27th 2025 - 10:38 UTC

    Spanish shipbuilder defends himself after Uruguay cancels €82 million OPV contract

    Cardama wants the agreement to be completed

    Mario Cardama, owner of the Spanish shipyard tasked with building two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for Uruguay, whose contract was canceled by Montevideo, insists that his company was also a victim of the bank backing the operation: EuroCommerce Limited.

  • Saturday, October 25th 2025 - 10:30 UTC

    Uruguay accuses Spanish shipyard Cardama of fraud; company calls it political interference

    The contract, signed under former president Luis Lacalle Pou, called for the delivery of the ships to Uruguay’s National Navy to strengthen maritime surveillance and resource protection

    The Uruguayan government has filed civil and criminal charges against the Spanish shipyard Cardama, which was contracted to build two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) worth more than US$92 million, after detecting alleged irregularities in the company’s performance bond. The case has escalated into a diplomatic and political dispute, with Montevideo accusing the shipyard of fraud and Cardama denying the charges, claiming it is being used for “electoral purposes.”

  • Thursday, October 23rd 2025 - 10:34 UTC

    Uruguay cancels OPV shipbuilding deal

    There are “strong indications that we are facing a swindle or fraud against the Uruguayan State,” Orsi argued

    Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi announced his government's decision to terminate the contract with Spain's Cardama Shipyard for the construction of two Ocean Patrol Vessels (OPVs). The contract, signed under the previous administration of Luis Lacalle Pou (2019-2025), is being rescinded due to years of delays, non-compliance, and the shipyard's precarious financial situation, it was explained.

  • Monday, September 1st 2025 - 09:51 UTC

    Researchers find wreck of former Uruguayan Navy's ROU 01

    The mission will explore the seabed off the Uruguayan coast until September 10

    The “Uruguay Sub200” scientific expedition, aboard the research vessel Falkor, has discovered the shipwreck of the destroyer ROU-01 Uruguay - formerly the USS Baron - at a depth of 1,160 meters off the coast.

  • Thursday, March 27th 2025 - 17:19 UTC

    Spanish shipyard starts building OPVs for Uruguay

    The Spanish shipyard Cardama began this week constructing the first of two ocean patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Uruguayan Navy, marked by the cutting of the first steel plate for the vessel, temporarily named “C-250.” This milestone follows initial payments by the Uruguayan government and the delivery of Lloyd’s certificates approving the design. The keel-laying is scheduled for May 2025.

  • Friday, January 17th 2025 - 21:02 UTC

    Uruguay makes payment to Spanish shipyard for construction of two OPVs

    The deal for the OPVs with Cardama has had its ups and downs but it appears now to have advanced to the next stage

    The Uruguayan Government this week made a US$ 8.4 million payment to the Spanish shipyard Cardama as the first installment for the construction of two new ocean patrol vessels (OPVs) agreed upon in July last year. The process has since been questioned and one Uruguayan Navy Admiral even retired from active duty amid the controversy.

  • Saturday, September 7th 2024 - 10:20 UTC

    Uruguayan Senator calls for Cardama deal for new Ocean Patrol Vessels to be dropped

    Cardama's ability or apparent lack thereof to fulfil the contract would corroborate Rear Admiral Musso's assessment that the Uruguayan government chose to ignore

    Broad Front (Frente Amplio - FA) Senator Sandra Lazo insisted Friday that Uruguay should backtrack on its decision to purchase two newly-built Ocean Patrol Vessels (OPVs) from Spanish shipyard Cardama, a company at risk of bankruptcy that has not yet commenced building the units ordered in mid-2023. The Spanish shipyard is still unable to obtain the collaterals required by the contract with the Uruguayan authorities.

  • Wednesday, June 19th 2024 - 09:41 UTC

    Uruguay takes delivery of South Korean-built patrol boat

    The ROU 10 Huracán is to be ferried to Montevideo aboard a merchant ship

    During a ceremony earlier this week at the South Korean Jinhae Naval Base, Uruguay's Navy took delivery of the Chamsuri class ROU 10 Huracán patrol vessel donated by the hosting country. The handover resulted from negotiations undertaken last year by then-Defense Minister Javier García to strengthen the South American country's capabilities to participate in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations as the main focus. South Korea has recently transferred other units to the Navies of Peru and Colombia.

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