Turva
General characteristics
### General characteristics

*Turva* is  long and  wide, making her the largest vessel ever commissioned by the Finnish Border Guard as well as longer than any existing or past vessel commissioned by the [Finnish Navy](/wiki/Finnish_Navy "Finnish Navy"). Fully laden, she draws  of water. At design draught, the vessel has a [deadweight tonnage](/wiki/Deadweight_tonnage "Deadweight tonnage") of 660 tonnes while her maximum deadweight is around 1,800 tonnes. Her complement will be approximately 30\.

The main purposes of the new offshore patrol vessel are open sea patrol and ensuring border safety. *Turva* carries a [rigid\-hulled inflatable boat](/wiki/Rigid-hulled_inflatable_boat "Rigid-hulled inflatable boat") and a larger patrol boat, both stowed in covered recesses, that can be used to carry a vessel inspection teams to intercepted ships. While the vessel does not have a hangar, the forward helipad with folding "wings" is large enough for receiving and refueling a [Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma](/wiki/Eurocopter_AS332_Super_Puma "Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma"), the largest type of helicopter operated by the Finnish Border Guard, during search\-and\-rescue operations at sea. *Turva* is the first Finnish patrol vessel fitted with such capability. For surveillance, *Turva* has a [Cassidian](/wiki/Cassidian "Cassidian") TRS\-[3D radar](/wiki/3D_radar "3D radar")—the same used in the [*Hamina*\-class missile boats](/wiki/Hamina-class_missile_boat "Hamina-class missile boat") and [*Hämeenmaa*\-class minelayers](/wiki/H%C3%A4meenmaa-class_minelayer "Hämeenmaa-class minelayer") of the [Finnish Navy](/wiki/Finnish_Navy "Finnish Navy")—and extensive command and control systems which allow the ship to direct large rescue operations both in the air and on the surface.[Perjantaina nimen saanut Rajan ulkovartiolaiva Turva on kopteritukialus](http://www.lentoposti.fi/uutiset/perjantaina_nimen_saanut_rajan_ulkovartiolaiva_turva_on_kopteritukialus). Lentoposti.fi, 2 August 2013\. [Vko 21: Rungon koonti etenee ja johtamisjärjestelmää testataan](http://www.raja.fi/uvl10/seuraa_laivan_valmistumista/1/1/vko_21_rungon_koonti_etenee_ja_johtamisjarjestelmaa_testataan). Rajavartiolaitos, 19 July 2013\.  Although no details have been released, the vessel is also fitted with underwater surveillance systems.

*Turva* is also equipped for rescue operations, firefighting, emergency towing and demanding environmental duties. She can perform mechanical recovery of spilled oil with built\-in recovery systems in open water, either by using conventional outriggers and booms in calm seas or a stiff steel boom and a special wave\-dampening channel in heavy weather. The oil recovery system has been manufactured by the Finnish company [Mobimar](/wiki/Mobimar "Mobimar") which has also provided equipment for other Finnish patrol vessels. Furthermore, the vessel is also [fitted for but not with](/wiki/Fitted_for_but_not_with "Fitted for but not with") equipment capable of recovering oil in ice conditions. The internal storage tanks are dimensioned for  of recovered oil and  of recovered chemicals.[Valtion öljyntorjunta\-alukset](http://www.ymparisto.fi/default.asp?contentid=111988). Suomen Ympäristökeskus.  The  open aft deck is covered with tropical [hardwood](/wiki/Hardwood "Hardwood"), [Iroko](/wiki/Iroko "Iroko").[Vko 36, 1: Puuta ja maalia pintaan](http://www.raja.fi/uvl10/seuraa_laivan_valmistumista/1/1/vko_36_1_puuta_ja_maalia_pintaan). Rajavartiolaitos, 11 December 2013\.  For diving support and oil recovery tasks, *Turva* carries a small workboat.[Vko 40: Työvene tuli Norjasta](http://www.raja.fi/uvl10/seuraa_laivan_valmistumista/1/1/vko_40_tyovene_tuli_norjasta). Rajavartiolaitos, 17 December 2013\. 

Like all Finnish offshore patrol vessels, *Turva* can be armed and used for national defense purposes in a crisis. However, during peacetime the vessels carry only small arms.

The blue\-and\-white colouring, inspired by the [flag of Finland](/wiki/Flag_of_Finland "Flag of Finland"), is a departure from the traditional green hull utilized by Finnish Border Guard. Following the construction of *Turva*, it became the standard for all Finnish patrol vessels.


Is Turva armed for national defense purposes in a crisis?