A new offshore patrol vessel has been added to the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) fleet. The vessel is named the ‘GDFS Shahoud’, in honour of Colonel Michael Shahoud, who was among the five Guyana Defence Force officers who perished in a helicopter crash in December of last year.
The 115 Defiant Monohull patrol vessel was designed and built by US-based company, Metal Shark Builds. The company has committed to working alongside the Coast Guard to operationalise the vessel.
Speaking at the commissioning event President Irfaan Ali said that increased economic activity in Guyana and the transformational path the country is on necessitated a more coordinated national defence strategy.
“In commissioning this vessel, we are not only adding to our naval fleet but also reinforcing our commitment to a comprehensive defence strategy that protects our national interest,” he said.