Norway signs NOK 870m naval maintenance deal with Umoe Mandal

Norway’s Defence Materiel Agency, Forsvarsmateriell, has signed a new framework agreement with shipyard Umoe Mandal for the maintenance of the Royal Norwegian Navy’s corvettes and mine countermeasures vessels.

Forsvarsmateriell announced the agreement on LinkedIn.

The contract has a maximum value of NOK 870m (€76m) and extends what the agency described as a long-standing and close cooperation with Norwegian industry.

- This framework agreement is important to ensure high technical availability and long-term predictability for some of the Navy’s most critical vessels, said Stein Håvard Bergstad, head of maritime capabilities at Forsvarsmateriell. 

- At the same time, we are further strengthening our cooperation with Norwegian industry.

Umoe Mandal, situated in the southern part of Norway, specialises in engineering solutions, advanced materials and bespoke production facilities for the design and construction of high-performance vessels and composite structures.

In January, the company was selected by BAE Systems to supply advanced lightweight composite structures for five Type 26 City class frigates being built for the UK’s Royal Navy.

The framework agreement covers planned and corrective maintenance, repairs, modifications and upgrades, life-extension measures, engineering support and docking services.

While Forsvarsmateriell said the agreement applies to corvettes and mine countermeasures vessels, the precise scope beyond these classes was not specified in the announcement.

The tender was conducted by Forsvarsmateriell in close cooperation with the Royal Norwegian Navy, with the agency saying it reflected a joint professional approach to procurement aimed at strengthening operational capability.