Norway outlines competition model for up to 20 standardised vessels

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (FMA) has set out its planned procurement approach for up to 20 ocean-going standardised vessels, to prepare industry for an upcoming prequalification phase. 

The programme – also known as Project 1118 (P1118) – involves the procurement of vessels for the Norwegian Coast Guard and Navy, as well as for Lithuania and the UK.  

“This is one of the largest and most important maritime procurements we will carry out in the years ahead,” the FMA said.  

UK involvement in the programme was first announced as part of the wider Lunna House Agreement signed between the two countries in late 2025. 

According to the FMA’s announcement on 20 October, up to 20 “ocean-going vessels” are planned, comprising a maximum of six for Norway’s Coast Guard, four for its navy, four for Lithuania, and six for the UK. 

The ships for the two international partners will be based on the same model as Norway’s naval variant. 

Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Salt Ship Design were awarded the design contracts for the programme in March, although a shipbuilder is yet to be selected.  

The FMA plans to run two concurrent competitions to select the preferred shipbuilder(s): one for the construction of up to six Coast Guard ships, and the other for the “14 naval vessels”. 

What is the standardised vessel programme? 

The P1118 programme is intended to reduce the maintenance and support costs for Norway’s and international partners’ fleets by replacing a wide range of vessel types with a standardised, modular design covering two sizes: an ocean-going version and a smaller near-shore version. 

This announcement covers the ocean-going version only, with the smaller near-shore procurement deferred because its concept design is less mature.

In March 2026, Kongsberg stated that more than 10 existing vessel classes could be replaced with the P1118 ships. 

Procurement details 

The FMA says it wants to ensure “broad competition” in the Norwegian shipbuilding market to “strengthen security of supply”, with the programme positioned as an export opportunity for Norway’s shipyards and defence industry.  

However, it will not require the hulls to be built in Norway, provided the build is in a jurisdiction that has sufficient security arrangements with the country. The FMA says it will release details of the prequalification phase within two weeks of its announcement, suggesting that it will go live in early November. 

However, it also says that: “A threshold will be set for the maximum degree of completion allowed abroad”.