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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, June 6th 2026 - 06:30 UTC

Tag: Uruguayan Navy

  • Monday, June 1st 2026 - 05:17 UTC

    Uruguay submits EUR 60 million offer to acquire three Royal Navy used patrol vessels

    The units in question correspond to the first generation of the Royal Navy's River class —HMS Tyne, HMS Mersey, and HMS Severn—, built between 2001 and 2003

    The Uruguayan government will this week present a formal offer to the United Kingdom's embassy for the acquisition of three used offshore patrol vessels belonging to the British Royal Navy, for an approximate amount of 60 million euros, as announced by the Deputy Secretary of the Presidency, Jorge Díaz. The operation, structured as a direct state-to-state purchase, fits within the administration of President Yamandú Orsi's search to replace the contract terminated with the Spanish shipyard Cardama, in parallel with the hardening of accusations from the Uruguayan executive against the Vigo-based company over the use of public funds transferred.

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  • Tuesday, May 26th 2026 - 23:13 UTC

    Uruguay signs memorandum with United Kingdom on aerospace, infrastructure, and digital innovation

    “This agreement is in line with the strategic objectives set out by President Yamandú Orsi, focused on commercial openness and mutual cooperation,” Oddone (center) said

    The Uruguayan government on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom to deepen bilateral dialogue and advance cooperation in the aerospace, infrastructure, and digital innovation sectors, in a new step in the rapprochement between the two countries initiated with the visit of Economy and Finance Minister Gabriel Oddone to London in February. The agreement, valid for at least the next four years, was signed between the Uruguayan Ministry of Economy and Finance and the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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