Colombian state-owned shipyard COTECMAR has delivered an Ocean Patrol Vessel to the navy as part of a program launched in 2016.
The handover of the “ARC 24 de Julio” marks the service’s first adoption of the largest and most complex warship designed and assembled entirely in the country.
A ceremony for the transfer was conducted at the Naval Base ARC Bolívar in Cartagena and was led by Colombian Navy Commander Adm. Juan Ricardo Rozo Obregón, according to Naval News.
The system’s construction began in March 2023 and concluded after almost two years, with the overall process consuming more than 1,070 tons (2.3 million pounds) of steel.
It was then launched in July 2025 and completed field evaluations and final outfitting after six months.
The initiative supported over 1,100 direct jobs and more than 2,200 additional positions across a network of 343 suppliers.
Commenting on the milestone, COTECMAR President Vice Adm. Luis Fernando Márquez Velosa said the transfer is a “tangible demonstration” of the South American country’s industrial expertise, domestic capacity, and collaborative institutional effort to produce a competitive naval platform.
ARC 24 de Julio Specifications
Colombia’s ARC 24 de Julio measures 93 meters (305 feet) long, has a beam of 14 meters (46 feet), and incorporates a flight deck for operating medium maritime helicopters.
It is equipped with capabilities that support extended patrol, surveillance, interdiction, and search and rescue missions in the nation’s areas of responsibility, particularly across the Caribbean and the Pacific.
COTECMAR has not yet publicized details on the ship’s propulsion and performance.
Once operational, the ARC 24 de Julio will support other vessels under Bogotá’s “PF2030” large-scale naval modernization plan.
That force overhaul strategy includes the manufacture of Sigma-class frigates in partnership with Dutch shipyard Damen.
The parallel effort, which COTECMAR is also part of, is scheduled to deliver its lead hull by 2030.
