Amid the commissioning process for the future multipurpose vessel (NDM) Oiapoque, the Brazilian Navy is advancing in the training of the crew that will be assigned to this unit, which is currently undergoing outfitting in the United Kingdom. With the deployment of the second group of Brazilian Navy personnel to the Plymouth Naval Base, a new phase of technical cooperation is being consolidated, focused on the transfer of knowledge and certifications essential for the vessel’s entry into service.
The contingent, comprised of 92 personnel, is participating in specialized courses and training ranging from the operation of onboard systems to technical inspection and verification tasks. Under the supervision of the Royal Navy and Babcock, the company responsible for the ship’s refit, the Brazilian sailors are also actively involved in maintenance and certification processes, gaining direct experience with British operating standards.
For the training phase, the NDM Oiapoque Reception Group has been formed, headed by Commander Antonio de Barcellos Neto, who received the last group of members of the so-called “Bravo Group” on December 5th, thus completing the second phase of the training program. It is anticipated that in the first half of 2026, a new delegation will be sent to the United Kingdom to continue with the certifications, while the ship undergoes final tests and operational inspection before its transfer to Brazil in the second half of the year.
Oiapoque was the name assigned to the former HMS Bulwark, an amphibious assault ship acquired from the United Kingdom in September 2025. Measuring 176 meters in length and displacing 18,500 tons, the vessel was designed for large-scale amphibious operations, capable of transporting up to 710 personnel and operating large helicopters from its flight deck. These characteristics position it as a strategic asset for both military projection and humanitarian and emergency relief missions.
The purchase of HMS Bulwark was formalized during the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) trade fair in London, in a ceremony led by Rear Admiral Edgar Luiz Siqueira Barbosa, Director General of Naval Materiel, and Vice Admiral Martin Connell of the Royal Navy. The agreement follows a series of bilateral cooperation agreements that have already facilitated the transfer of the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, currently in service with the Brazilian Navy as the NAM Atlântico (A-140).
The commander of the Brazilian Navy, Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, emphasized on that occasion that the incorporation of the Oiapoque “constitutes a decisive step in rebuilding the core of Naval Power, ensuring sovereignty in the Blue Amazon and consolidating our presence in areas of strategic interest.” In addition to its deterrent value, the vessel will be an essential resource for disaster response operations, such as the floods that affected São Sebastião and Rio Grande do Sul in recent years.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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