Lithuania to acquire €50m multipurpose rescue ship

Lithuania’s Naval Forces will acquire a multipurpose vessel for pollution response, search and rescue, and firefighting at sea, LRT reported. The Defence Ministry signed a purchase contract with Dutch company Damen Workboats B.V. on Thursday.

The ship, valued at nearly €50 million, will strengthen Lithuania’s ability to respond to emergencies in the Baltic Sea and the waters of Klaipėda State Seaport.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the new vessel would replace the ageing Šakiai and provide modern capabilities for missions in Lithuanian waters. Environment Minister Ieva Andriulaitytė said it would support environmental protection, emergency management and rescue operations.

The European Union is providing about €40 million for the project, with Lithuania contributing a further €9.5 million. The vessel is expected to be built by late summer 2029. It will replace the Šakiai, which has been in service since 1987.