On May 27, the keel was laid for a novel semi-autonomous modular vessel at the Baltic Workboats shipyard in Nasva, Estonia. This vessel is being developed under EUROGUARD, one of the largest projects of the European Defence Fund, marking a significant milestone in European defence innovation.
Representatives from project partners across several European countries attended the keel-laying ceremony.
“The keel laying ceremony represents a crucial step forward in our collaborative effort to enhance Europe’s maritime defence capabilities,” said Francisco Casalduero, Programme Manager at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space. “This vessel will address security concerns in Europe’s littoral waters in accordance with recent developments, demonstrating the strength of European cooperation in developing cutting-edge defence technologies.”
The vessel being built under the EUROGUARD project is a novel 45-meter semi-autonomous modular platform that can be configured for various missions. The project costs a total of 95 million euros, of which 65 million comes from the European Defence Fund and 30 million from participating countries and companies.
The project is coordinated by the Estonian company Baltic Workboats, which manages the consortium of 23 organizations, including maritime and defene industry companies and research institutions from ten European countries. EUROGUARD helps strengthen European domestic production and promotes cooperation between industry and researchers.
About EUROGUARD: EUROGUARD is a project funded by the European Defence Fund, aimed at strengthening Europe’s defence capabilities through innovative naval technologies. The project focuses on the development of modular, semi-autonomous surface vessels, integrating advanced remote-control systems and sustainable propulsion solutions to address modern maritime security needs. The project began at the end of 2023 and will continue until the end of 2027.
The EUROGUARD vessel features several important capabilities, including interchangeable modules for mission-specific reconfiguration, advanced systems for seabed monitoring, submarine and naval mine countermeasures, drone integration, and search and rescue support. The vessel’s design prioritizes modularity, allowing flexible assembly for varied missions, and incorporates green propulsion technologies to align with Europe’s environmental goals.
The prototype will feature autonomous navigation capabilities, obstacle and threat detection, collision avoidance, and other mission-specific functions. Its data-centric architecture and advanced software deployment will provide modularity and reliability critical for unmanned or lean-manned operations.
About European Defence Fund: The European Defence Fund aims to strengthen the European defence industry and promote research and development in the field. The fund supports the development of innovative projects and the creation of unified defence capabilities across Europe.
About Baltic Workboats: Baltic Workboats is an Estonian shipbuilder located in Saaremaa, specializing in high-quality workboats, patrol vessels, passenger ferries, and other special-purpose vessels, with over 90% of its production going abroad.
Photo by Pilleli Läets
