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|Ship identification = GC-23
|Ship motto=
|Ship fate=Sunk, 30 March 2020
|Ship status= Sunk, 30 March 2020
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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| Header caption =
| Ship class = {{sclass-|Guaicamacuto|patrol boat}}
| Ship displacement =* {{cvt|1453|LT|0|lk=on}} (standard)
* {{cvt|1720|LT|}} (full load)
| Ship length = {{cvt|79.9|m|ftin}}
| Ship beam = {{cvt|11.8|m|ftin}} (max.)<ref name="Navantia Avante 1400 patrol ship">{{cite web|title=Navantia Avante 1400 patrol ship|url=http://www.navantia.es/ckfinder/userfiles/files/BVL(1).pdf|publisher=Navantia|accessdateaccess-date=13 July 2013}}</ref>
| Ship draught = {{cvt|7|m|ftin}}
| Ship power =* 4 × [[MTU Friedrichshafen|MTU]] 12V-1163-TB93
* {{cvt|4440|kW|shp}}{{Dubious |reason=Navantia document mentions only two engines|date=April 2020}}{{cn|date=April 2020}}
| Ship propulsion = *[[Combined diesel and diesel|CODAD]]
*2 × shaft with [[Wärtsilä]] 5C09 CP propeller<ref>{{citeCite web|url=http://www.wartsila.com/Wartsila/global/docs/en/ship_power/segments/navy/propulsion-solutions-for-OPVs.pdf|title=Wartsila Propulsion Solutions for OPVs|access-date=2020-04-06|archive-date=2011-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927182042/http://www.wartsila.com/Wartsila/global/docs/en/ship_power/segments/navy/propulsion-solutions-for-OPVs.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Ship speed = {{convert|22|kn|lk=on}}
| Ship range = {{cvt|4000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|16|kn}}
| Ship armor =
| Ship aircraft = 1 × [[Bell 212|AB212]], [[Bell 412|AB412]], or [[Eurocopter AS565 Panther|AS565]] helicopters
| Ship aircraft facilities = Landing pad<ref name="Navantia Avante 1400 patrol ship">{{cite web|title=Navantia Avante 1400 patrol ship|url=http://www.navantia.es/ckfinder/userfiles/files/BVL(1).pdf|publisher=Navantia|accessdate=13 July 2013}}</ref>
| Ship notes =
}}
|}
'''''Naiguatá'' (GC-23)''', was a {{convert|79.9|m|adj=on}} littoral [[{{sclass|Guaicamacuto|patrol boat]]}} of the Venezuelan Coast Guard. The vessel was constructed by [[Navantia]] in [[Cádiz]], Spain beginning in 2008. On 30 March 2020, the vessel rammedcollided with the [[cruise ship]] {{ship||RCGS Resolute}} in international waters and sank.
==Construction and career==
''Naiguatá'' was the third ship of the {{sclass-|Guaicamacuto|patrol boat|0}} BVLs. BVL stands for "Buque de Vigilancia de Litoral,", which is Spanish for littoral [[Patrol boat|surveillance ship]]. It had a [[Displacement (ship)|displacement]] of 1,720 tons.<ref>{{cite news |last1= Lagneau |first=Laurent |title=Un patrouilleur de la marine vénézuélienne a coulé après avoir percuté un navire de croisière |url=http://www.opex360.com/2020/04/02/un-patrouilleur-de-la-marine-venezuelienne-a-coule-apres-avoir-percute-un-navire-de-croisiere/ |access-date=4 April 2020 |work=opex360 |date=2 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404093306/http://www.opex360.com/2020/04/02/un-patrouilleur-de-la-marine-venezuelienne-a-coule-apres-avoir-percute-un-navire-de-croisiere/ |archive-date=4 April 2020 |language=fr |quote=affichant 1.720 tonnes}}</ref> It was built by Navantia in Spain at the [[San Fernando, Cádiz|San Fernando]] shipyards in Cádiz,<ref>{{cite news |last1=González |first1=Miguel |title=España retira su apoyo al buque de guerra 'Comandante Eterno Hugo Chávez' |url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2019/01/28/actualidad/1548699378_893143.html |accessdateaccess-date=3 April 2020 |work=[[El País]] |date=29 January 2019 |language=es |quote=A diferencia de los siete anteriores, su construcción no se llevó a cabo en los astilleros de San Fernando (Cádiz), sino en los de Puerto Cabello, en el Estado de Carabobo (Venezuela)}}</ref> based on a standard Navantia Avante 1400 design.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navantia.es/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Avante-1400.pdf|title=Wayback Machine|date=April 3, 2020|title=Avante 1400|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403021835/https://www.navantia.es/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Avante-1400.pdf|archive-date=2020-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/article/95271/venezuelan-coast-guard-patrol-ship-sinks-following-collision|title=Venezuelan Coast Guard patrol ship sinks following collision | Jane's 360|date=3 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403023806/https://www.janes.com/article/95271/venezuelan-coast-guard-patrol-ship-sinks-following-collision|archive-date=3 April 2020}}</ref> The [[keel]] was [[Keel laying|laid]] in October 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.mnve.mil.ve/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=31|title =Puesta de quilla del Tercer Buque de Vigilancia Litoral| accessdateaccess-date =25 June 2009|publisher =Misión Naval Venezolana en España|date =October 2008|language =es|doi =|archiveurlarchive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090322172714/http://www.mnve.mil.ve/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=31|archive-date =22 March 2009}}</ref> The ship was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 24 June 2009, christened by Alma Pura de Padrón<ref>{{cite news |title=Navantia sigue entregando unidades navales para la Marina de Venezuela |url=https://andaluciainformacion.es/andalucia/63596/navantia-sigue-entregando-unidades-navales-para-la-marina-de-venezuela/#! |access-date=4 April 2020 |work=Andalucía Información |date=24 June 2009 |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404101148/https://andaluciainformacion.es/andalucia/63596/navantia-sigue-entregando-unidades-navales-para-la-marina-de-venezuela/ |archivedatearchive-date=4 April 2020 |language=es |quote=Alma Pura de Padrón, madrina del acto, se mostró emocionada tras la botadura y cuando las sirenas de los remolcadores y del astillero isleño sonaban por el acontecimiento}}</ref> and named after the city of [[Naiguatá]]. The [[Venezuelan Navy]] took delivery of ''Naiguatá'' from the builder and subsequently transferred it to the [[Venezuelan Coast Guard]]. Its weapons systems consisted of one Leonardo [[OTO Melara 76 mm]] gun, one [[Close-in weapon system|CIWS]] anti-aircraft/anti-missile [[Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun]], and two 12.7 mm machine guns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infodefensa.com/latam/2020/02/26/noticia-chavez-sometido-quinta-prueba.html|archiveurlarchive-url=httphttps://archive.today/20200403025258/https://www.infodefensa.com/latam/2020/02/26/noticia-chavez-sometido-quinta-prueba.html|archive-date=3 April 2020 |url-status=dead|title=El BVL Hugo Chávez fue sometido a su quinta prueba de mar - Noticias Infodefensa América}}</ref>
===Sinking===
''Naiguatá'' sank following itsa purposefulcollision with the [[rammingice class]] of the cruise linership {{ship||RCGS Resolute}} while in international waters on 30 March 2020.<ref>{{Cite newsweb|url=https://www.thetimesmaritime-executive.co.ukcom/articleeditorials/venezuelanthe-navystrange-shipsaga-sinksof-afterrcgs-ramming-reinforced-cruise-liner-6t9wggf5dresolute|title=The Strange Saga of RCGS Resolute|website=The Maritime Executive}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Gibbs|first=Stephen|date=3 April 2020|title=Venezuelan navy ship sinks after ramming reinforced cruise liner|firstwork=StephenThe GibbsTimes|last=Venezuela|viaurl=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/venezuelan-navy-ship-sinks-after-ramming-reinforced-cruise-liner-6t9wggf5d|access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref> According to ''RCGS Resolute''{{'}}s owner, the Coast Guard ship had fired shots<ref name=":0" /> and ordered the cruise ship to follow it to [[Isla Margarita Island]], a Venezuelan harbour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kévin STORME |title=Un navire de croisière coule un patrouilleur du Vénézuela |url=https://lemarin.ouest-france.fr/secteurs-activites/defense/36360-venezuela-un-navire-de-croisiere-coule-un-patrouilleur |accessdateaccess-date=4 April 2020 |work=Le Marin |date=3 April 2020 |archiveurlarchive-url=httphttps://archive.istoday/UPbdf20200404094515/https://lemarin.ouest-france.fr/secteurs-activites/defense/36360-venezuela-un-navire-de-croisiere-coule-un-patrouilleur |archivedatearchive-date=4 April 2020 |language=fr |quote=According to CCS, the patrol ship contacted RCGS Resolute before ordering him to follow him to Margarita Island.}}</ref> ''Naiguatá'' sank following the collision, with ''RCGS Resolute'' informing the international Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the incident and offering assistance. After one hour staying in the area for an hour, ''RCGS Resolute'' was informed through MRCC that assistance was not required as ''Naiguatá''{{'}}s crew had been rescued by the Venezuelan Navy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kriegsschiff rammt Passagierschiff und sinkt |url=https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/politik-ausland/kriegsschiff-rammt-deutsches-passagierschiff-und-sinkt-selbst-69805216.bild.html | accessdateaccess-date=2 April 2020 |work=[[Bild]] |language=de }}</ref>
Venezuelan president [[Nicolás Maduro]] accused the captain of the cruise ship of "[[piracy]]" and "[[terrorism]] ," ,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/02/venezuelan-naval-vessel-goes-confrontation-portuguese-cruise/|title=Venezuelan naval vessel goes down after confrontation with Portuguese cruise ship|first=James|last=Badcock|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=April 2, 2020|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> adding later that he did not rule out that ''RCGS Resolute'' was "carrying mercenaries to attack onshore military bases ." .<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curacaochronicle.com/post/main/venezuelan-president-ship-that-is-docked-in-curacao-carries-mercenaries-to-attack-venezuela/|title=Venezuelan President: Ship that is docked in Curaçao carries mercenaries to attack Venezuela|website=www.curacaochronicle.com |date=9 June 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nieuwsbladtransport.nl/scheepvaart/2020/04/02/venezolaans-marineschip-naar-de-kelder-na-rammen-pool-cruiseschip/|title=Venezolaans marineschip naar de kelder na rammen pool-cruiseschip|website=Nieuwsblad Transport |date=2 April 2020 }}</ref> The [[Ministry of Defense (Venezuela)|Venezuelan minister of defence]] said ''RCGS Resolute''{{'}}s action was an act of "imperial aggression ." .<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32853/this-venezuelan-patrol-ship-sunk-itself-after-ramming-a-cruise-liner-with-an-reinforced-hull|title=This Venezuelan Patrol Ship Sunk Itself After Ramming A Cruise Liner With A Reinforced Hull|first=Joseph|last=Trevithick|website=The Drive |date=April 2020 }}</ref> ▼
However, according to the Portuguese after-incident investigation, ''Naiguatá''{{'}}s heading just before the collision with ''RCGS Resolute'' may have been caused by a suction effect between the vessels as the faster patrol boat passed the bow of the cruise ship. Thus, while the collision may have not been intentional ramming, the conclusion was nonetheless that the incident that led to the sinking of ''Naiguatá'' was a deliberate act initiated by the Venezuelan Navy rather than an accidental occurrence.<ref name=gamareport20200406>{{cite report |url=http://www.gama.mm.gov.pt/images/Relatorios_Tecnicos/2020-065_RCGS_RESOLUTE.pdf |title=Relatório de Investigação Técnica / Investigation report |language=pt |publisher=Gabinete de Investigação de Acidentes Marítimos e da Autoridade para a Meteorologia Aeronáutica (GAMA) |date=6 April 2020 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref>
==== Portuguese investigation details ====
On 6 April, the Office for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents and the Aeronautical Meteorology Authority ({{lang|pt|Gabinete de Investigação de Acidentes Marítimos e da Autoridade para a Meteorologia Aeronáutica}} or GAMA) of Portugal released a technical investigation report on the incident involving the Portuguese-flagged cruise ship.<ref name=gamareport20200406/>
According to the report, ''RCGS Resolute'' had departed Buenos Aires on 5 March and sailed to the [[Caribbean Sea]] along the South American coastline. On 28 March, the vessel had stopped in the open sea to allow the crew to carry out maintenance work in the engine room. After drifting closer to the Venezuelan coast on the following day, ''RCGS Resolute'' had resumed sailing west for about 90 minutes until the ship had passed La Tortuga Island and then continued adrift to a westerly direction while the starboard main engine [[turbocharger]] was being serviced.<ref name=gamareport20200406/>
On the night of 30 March, ''RCGS Resolute'' was contacted by the Venezuelan Coast Guard patrol boat ''Naiguatá'' at around quarter past midnight. After a brief questioning over VHF Marine band radio, the cruise ship was ordered to follow the Venezuelan vessel to Puerto Moreno on the basis that the Portuguese-flagged vessel was violating Venezuelan territorial waters. After consulting with the company designated person ashore (DPA), ''RCGS Resolute'' announced that the vessel would start engines and resume voyage to [[Curaçao]].<ref name=gamareport20200406/>
At around 01:05 [[Time in Venezuela|local time]], ''Naiguatá'' approached ''RCGS Resolute'' from the starboard quarter and, after suddenly changing course to port, collided with the bow of the cruise ship. A few minutes later, ''RCGS Resolute''{{'}}s master ordered the port side [[controllable pitch propeller]] first to zero pitch and then to astern thrust in order to separate the vessels. The company DPA instructed the cruise ship to remain on site and contact the local Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). At 01:38, about half an hour after the collision, ''Naiguatá''{{'}}s [[AIS-SART|Automatic Identification System-Search and Rescue Transmitter (AIS-SART)]] was activated but ''RCGS Resolute'' was unable to establish contact with the sinking Venezuelan vessel over the radio and instead contacted [[JRCC Curaçao]]. About one hour later, the Venezuelan crew was seen preparing [[liferaft]]s for launching. At 02:43, JRCC Curaçao relayed a statement from the Venezuelan authority responsible for the region, [[MRCC La Guaira]], that ''RCGS Resolute''{{'}}s assistance was no longer needed on site and instructed the cruise ship to proceed to [[Willemstad]] in order to avoid problems with the Venezuelan Navy.<ref name=gamareport20200406/>
Although the Portuguese authorities had not obtained statements from Venezuela, the report discussed the possibility that the unexpected change in ''Naiguatá''{{'}}s heading just before the collision, as reported by ''RCGS Resolute'', may have been caused by a suction effect between the vessels as the faster patrol boat passed the bow of the cruise ship. Although the collision may have not been intentional ramming, the conclusion was nonetheless that the incident that led to the sinking of ''Naiguatá'' was a deliberate act initiated by the Venezuelan Navy rather than an accidental occurrence.<ref name=gamareport20200406/>
▲Venezuelan president [[Nicolás Maduro]] accused the captain of the cruise ship of "[[piracy]]" and "[[terrorism]],"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/04/02/venezuelan-naval-vessel-goes-confrontation-portuguese-cruise/|title=Venezuelan naval vessel goes down after confrontation with Portuguese cruise ship|first=James|last=Badcock|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=April 2, 2020|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> adding later that he did not rule out that ''RCGS Resolute'' was "carrying mercenaries to attack onshore military bases."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curacaochronicle.com/post/main/venezuelan-president-ship-that-is-docked-in-curacao-carries-mercenaries-to-attack-venezuela/|title=Venezuelan President: Ship that is docked in Curaçao carries mercenaries to attack Venezuela|website=www.curacaochronicle.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nieuwsbladtransport.nl/scheepvaart/2020/04/02/venezolaans-marineschip-naar-de-kelder-na-rammen-pool-cruiseschip/|title=Venezolaans marineschip naar de kelder na rammen pool-cruiseschip|website=Nieuwsblad Transport}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Defense (Venezuela)|Venezuelan minister of defence]] said ''RCGS Resolute''{{'}}s action was an act of "imperial aggression."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32853/this-venezuelan-patrol-ship-sunk-itself-after-ramming-a-cruise-liner-with-an-reinforced-hull|title=This Venezuelan Patrol Ship Sunk Itself After Ramming A Cruise Liner With A Reinforced Hull|first=Joseph|last=Trevithick|website=The Drive}}</ref>
== References ==
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Venezuelan patrol boat ''Naiguatá''|noerror}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Naiguatá}}
[[Category:Patrol vessels of the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela]]
[[Category:Ships of the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela]] ▼[[Category:2009 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2020]]
[[Category:Ships sunk in collisions]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Caribbean Sea]]
[[Category:Crisis in Venezuela]]
▲[[Category: ShipsMaritime of the Bolivarian Navyhistory of Venezuela]]
{{2020 shipwrecks}}
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