MAURIC Selected to Design Five Riverine Patrol Vessels for the Bangladesh Coast Guard
French naval architecture firm MAURIC, together with Norway’s NORDIC NAVAL AS, has won a contract to provide the design package and main equipment for five 38-metre riverine patrol vessels (RPV-385) for the Bangladesh Coast Guard. The selection was announced on 10 September 2026.
At a Glance
- Design partners: MAURIC (France) and NORDIC NAVAL AS (Norway)
- Quantity: 5 vessels, each 38 metres long, top speed 22 knots
- Steel hull, aluminium superstructure; to be armed with a 30mm remote-operated gun
- Capacity for up to 27 crew/personnel, missions of up to 10 days
- Construction planned to begin in Q4 2026 at Dockyard & Engineering Works Limited in Bangladesh
- Mission profile: coastal surveillance, anti-smuggling operations and protection of Bangladeshi territorial waters
Background
MAURIC has a long track record in civil and military vessel design, known for projects such as the VGMAR programme with Couach for the French Maritime Gendarmerie (24 patrol vessels). The RPV-385 selection for the Bangladesh Coast Guard draws on MAURIC’s existing family of coastal patrol vessels, whose performance has been validated in real operational conditions — officials cited that proven track record as the decisive factor in the choice.
Given its long coastline on the Bay of Bengal and extensive river network, Bangladesh needs multipurpose platforms capable of operating both at sea and on inland waterways. The RPV-385’s shallow-draft-friendly design and relatively high speed are considered important for anti-smuggling and illegal-fishing enforcement, where speed is critical. The vessels will be built locally at a Bangladeshi shipyard, which also brings technology-transfer and employment benefits for the country.
What It Means for the Region
Growing coastal-security capacity in South Asia matters for the safety of regional maritime trade routes. Bangladesh’s approach — pairing a European design house with local construction — parallels the model Turkish shipbuilders such as Ares Shipyard have pursued in Africa and South Asia: local build with outside design or technology support. Projects like this show that European design firms and Turkish shipyards can end up as both competitors and technology partners in regional coast-guard markets, depending on the tender.
FAQ
When will the RPV-385 vessels be delivered?
Construction is planned to start in Q4 2026; an exact delivery schedule has not yet been made public.
Where will the vessels be built?
At the Dockyard & Engineering Works Limited shipyard in Bangladesh.
Why was this design chosen?
Bangladeshi authorities cited MAURIC’s existing, operationally proven coastal patrol vessel family as the decisive factor.
