Türkiye?launches first multifunction support ship for Portugal

A concept graphic of two multi-purpose Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR+) and logistics support ships for the Portuguese Navy, released by Turkish defence company STM on announcing winning the contract on 17 December 2024. (STM)

Turkish company Ada Shipyard (Ada Denizcilik ve Tersane İşletmeciliği AŞ) laid the keel for the first of two multi-purpose Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR+) ships for the Portuguese Navy on 29 January.

The first ship, NRP Luís de Camões (A5211), is scheduled to be commissioned in April 2028, the Portuguese Navy said.

Under Portugal's AOR+ Project (Navio Reabastecedor de Esquadra e Logístico: NRE+), the fleet is being built by Ada Shipyard under the direction of Türkiye's STM (Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret) as part of a EUR100 million (USD118 million) contract signed between the Portuguese Navy's Directorate of Ships and STM on 17 December 2024.

Portugal issued a tender in March 2024 to meet the AOR+ effort, which is part of the National Fleet Renewal Program, the Portuguese Navy told Janes in January 2026.

The two logistics support ships for Portugal are Türkiye's first naval platform export to a European Union and NATO member country.

The Portuguese Navy was initially expected to commission two AOR+ ships in 2026 and 2028 respectively, it told Janes in April 2024.

Each AOR+ vessel was designed to accommodate 4,000 m³ of F-76 marine diesel fuel, 350 m³ of F-44 aviation fuel, 650 m³ of fresh water, 700 m³ of general cargo, six 20 ft containers, ammunition, and barrels of lubricant oil and gasoline.

The vessels will displace 11,000 tonnes, will be 137 m long and 128.7 m wide, with a top speed exceeding 18 kt, an endurance of 90 days, and a range exceeding 1,400 n miles.