Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) patrol boats configured for surveillance, interdiction, and rapid-response missions
Portuguese small craft specialist SSEARIB, has completed the delivery of a fleet of Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIB) to the Senegalese National Police and the Senegalese National Gendarmerie, with the handover marked by a formal ceremony at the Naval Training Centers in Dakar.
The project comprised six SR860 patrol boats (8.6 metres) and four SR1500 cabin patrol boats (15 metres). The new vessels are set to enhance maritime surveillance, patrol, and rapid-response capabilities.
Each patrol boat are fitted with Suzuki engines, Ullman Dynamics suspension seating, and Humminbird radar systems, supporting high levels of performance, crew protection, and operational effectiveness in demanding conditions.
The supply was handled by SEARIB’s, in partnership with CNMT (Chantier Naval Marine Technologie), ensuring efficient execution aligned with the project’s technical requirements.
Alongside the delivery of the vessels, a Maritime Maintenance Center was inaugurated, located next to the shipyards and the Admiral Faye Gassama Naval Base, reinforcing the capacity for continuous support and maintenance of these assets.
This project was funded by the European Union as part of the second phase of the Joint Operational Programme (POC II), with an investment of €29 million aimed at strengthening the capacity of Senegal’s security forces. The program aims to strengthen border protection, crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and the fight against human trafficking, narcotics, organized crime, and terrorism.
The handover ceremony was attended by representatives of the European Union, including European Commissioners Jozef Síkela (International Partnerships) and Magnus Brunner (Home Affairs and Migration), as well as high-ranking Senegalese state officials, including the Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Mouhamadou Bamba Cissé, the Inspector General of the National Police, Mame Seydou Ndour, and the Commander of the National Gendarmerie, General Martin Faye.
With over two decades of experience, SEARIB’s is a Portuguese brand specializing in the development and production of semi-rigid inflatable boats (RIBs). Integrated into Navalport Yards – Construção Naval, Lda, headquartered in Sobral de Monte Agraço and with facilities in Viana do Castelo, the company has delivered over 1,500 boats, with approximately 80% destined for export.
Over the years, SEARIB’s has established itself as a leading partner for navies, security forces, and maritime rescue entities, with an international presence and operations in strategic markets such as Morocco, Guinea, Angola, etc.
