A ceremony marking the handover and naming of the new coastal patrol vessel Newbuild 541 – UMAG was held today at the “Fleet Admiral Sveto Letica - Barba” barracks in Split. The vessel, commissioned by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia, is the latest addition to the Croatian Navy.
Delivery day of the new coastal patrol vessel CPV-32 ''UMAG''
Following the prototype patrol vessel OOB-31 Omiš, this is the second coastal patrol vessel and the first of a series of five ships to join the Croatian Coast Guard and Navy. With the official delivery of the Umag to the Ministry of Defense, the long-term project for building coastal patrol vessels for the Coast Guard and Navy has commenced.
The ceremony was attended by delegations from the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Croatian Armed Forces, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ivan Anušić, Chief of the General Staff General Tihomir Kundid, and Commander of the Croatian Navy Damir Dojkić. Representing Brodosplit shipyard was its CEO, Tomislav Debeljak.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ivan Anušić stated during the ceremony:
“This vessel is the first in a series we will deliver to the Croatian Navy. It marks just the beginning of the modernization of our naval forces. We have also initiated the procurement process for a multipurpose corvette-class vessel, and we expect to soon present this modernization project to the public. We aim to equip the Croatian Navy with such vessels in the near future.”
The vessel will operate under the name OOB-32 Umag within the fleet of the Croatian Navy’s Coast Guard. The handover was formalized through the signing of the delivery protocol. The honorary godmother of the ship, Danijela Radeka Paljuh—daughter of Valter Radeka, the first Croatian Navy member killed in action from the Istria region—revealed the vessel’s name during the ceremony.
Chief of the General Staff General Tihomir Kundid wished the Umag a long and successful service, emphasizing its role in enhancing maritime security and protecting national borders.
“This vessel will undoubtedly elevate the Coast Guard’s operational capabilities. Its introduction reflects the technological progress of the Croatian Navy and strengthens our maritime tradition. It is a vital element in addressing modern challenges to the security of our maritime domain,” he said.
Navy Commander Commodore Damir Dojkić added:
“To maintain sovereignty at sea means being able to monitor and control activities in waters under our jurisdiction—not just within territorial seas, but also in the exclusive economic zone. This is the primary mission of the Coast Guard as an integral part of the Navy. This vessel will enhance our capabilities, building upon the proven performance of the Omiš.”
Tomislav Debeljak, CEO of Brodosplit, expressed gratitude to Defense Minister Ivan Anušić for his trust, saying:
“I am confident we can complete the remaining three vessels without issue and achieve much more. Despite the challenges posed by the Ukraine crisis—which cost us over a billion kuna through no fault of our own—we have managed to recover. Our order book now surpasses the value of projects we had during times when we were fully booked for five years in advance.”
He stressed the importance of state support for the shipbuilding industry:
“Shipbuilding cannot survive without government support. We are currently in discussions with the government about guarantees to ensure the continuation of projects. New orders require appropriate financing. I’ve long emphasized that Croatia lacks structured financing for shipbuilding, unlike developed shipbuilding nations. I hope the necessary funds will be secured soon, allowing us to begin large-scale production,” Debeljak said.
Technical Specifications of the Coastal Patrol Vessel
The vessel is 43.16 meters long and equipped with a remotely operated weapons station featuring a 30mm automatic cannon, two manually operated 12.7mm machine guns, and four portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
It has a crew capacity of 17 members and an operational autonomy of 10 days. Its two main engines, each producing 2,525 kW (3,386 horsepower), enable a top speed of 28 knots.
The vessel is also outfitted with high-resolution daytime cameras for target detection and tracking, a thermal imaging camera for long-range target detection, and two specialized night-vision binoculars.