Within the framework of bilateral cooperation between Brazil and the United Kingdom, the Brazilian Navy (MB) has formalized the acquisition of the amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark, recently retired from service with the Royal Navy. The incorporation of this unit, which will be renamed Navio-Doca Multipropósito (NDM) Oiapoque, marks a milestone in the MB’s efforts to expand its strategic projection capability. With unique characteristics and capacities in the region, the ship will provide a qualitative leap in force projection while reinforcing the means available for military, humanitarian, and emergency assistance operations.
The agreement was formalized during the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) fair in London, with the signing by Admiral Edgar Luiz Siqueira Barbosa, Director General of Naval Materiel, and on behalf of the Royal Navy, Vice Admiral Martin Connell. The ceremony was also attended by the Commander of the Brazilian Navy, Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, together with civilian and military authorities from both countries. On the occasion, the British ambassador to Brazil, Stephanie Al-Qaq, highlighted the strategic nature of the transfer and emphasized that HMS Bulwark is a proven asset for responding to humanitarian crises, in addition to strengthening naval cooperation between the two nations.
Measuring 176 meters in length, displacing 18,500 tons, and with capacity to carry up to 710 troops, HMS Bulwark—future NDM Oiapoque—was designed for large-scale amphibious operations. Its floodable dock can accommodate landing craft for transporting troops, armored vehicles, and heavy equipment, while its flight deck can support up to two large helicopters. These features make it a highly valuable resource both for military projection and humanitarian missions, enabling aeromedical evacuations, supply transport, and the rapid deployment of field hospitals.
Admiral Olsen stressed that the purchase of HMS Bulwark represents “a decisive step in the reconstitution of the core of Naval Power, ensuring sovereignty in the Blue Amazon and consolidating presence in areas of strategic interest.” In addition to strengthening the force’s deterrent capability, the ship will provide a versatile tool for responding to emergencies caused by extreme weather events, such as the floods that struck São Sebastião in 2023 and Rio Grande do Sul in 2024.
The vessel is currently undergoing refitting at the Plymouth shipyards in England, with modernization work on its command and control, communications, and propulsion systems, scheduled for completion in 2026. This program will extend its service life by at least two decades, ensuring operational standards in line with MB’s requirements. As part of the agreement, more than 90 Brazilian sailors will receive specialized training in the United Kingdom, ensuring a smooth transition to full operational capability once the ship joins the fleet.
HMS Bulwark has an outstanding operational record in the Royal Navy. It took part in the evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon during the 2006 conflict, in rescue operations following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland in 2010, and in counter-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa in 2011. In 2015, while operating off the Libyan coast, it assisted more than 2,900 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, in a mission that the Brazilian Navy itself highlighted on social media as an example of the humanitarian vocation that will guide the future NDM Oiapoque.
With the incorporation of NDM Oiapoque, the Brazilian Navy consolidates a policy of strategic acquisitions in partnership with the United Kingdom, which had already included the transfer of the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, currently in service as NAM Atlântico (A-140). This new step symbolizes not only the expansion of the force’s amphibious and humanitarian capabilities, but also the strengthening of the historic relationship between the two navies, in a regional context that requires modern, versatile means capable of projecting both power and solidarity beyond national borders.
Image credits: Brazilian Navy
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