Tuco Marine Group continues its expansion into the African market with the sale of ProZero 8M Riverine S vessels to the Kenya Navy. The sale marks another step in the company’s long-term strategy of delivering robust, operationally flexible vessels to African navies and maritime authorities, and follows closely on the recent sale of two ProZero vessels to the Ghana Navy.
With the delivery, Tuco expands its presence in East Africa while contributing to the modernisation of the Kenya Navy’s fleet. The ProZero 8M Riverine S has been developed specifically for demanding operations in shallow rivers, mangrove areas and coastal zones, environments where conventional vessels are often unable to operate effectively.
A Partnership Rooted in Danish-Kenyan Diplomacy
The agreement is the result of a sustained process involving close cooperation with the Danish Embassy in Kenya, the Danish liaison officer to the Kenya Navy, Kjeld Gaard-Frederiksen, and the Danish government’s Peace and Stabilisation Fund, whose support has been instrumental in realising the project and in contributing to increased security in the region.
In September, a delegation from the Kenya Navy and Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL) visited Tuco’s shipyard in Faaborg, a visit arranged by Gaard-Frederiksen in cooperation with Danske Maritime. The visit gave the Kenyan representatives first-hand insight into the production of the ProZero vessels and provided an opportunity for constructive discussions on how the vessels could be tailored to the Kenya Navy’s operational needs.
In December, Tuco’s CEO, Jonas Pedersen, and International Business Developer, Magnus Bang, travelled to Kenya to meet with the leadership of both the Kenya Navy and KSL, gaining a deeper understanding of the specific requirements and challenges faced by the Kenyan maritime authorities.
The Vessel: ProZero 8M Riverine S
The ProZero 8M Riverine S is purpose-built for military riverine operations in hostile and demanding terrain, where branches, reeds, trees and other natural obstacles typically bring conventional vessels to a halt.
- Length: 8 m
- Beam: 2 m
- Draft: 0.60 m (shallow-water configuration)
- Capacity: 7 persons (6 operators + 1 crew); max. load 1,000 kg
- Propulsion: 1x inboard diesel; top speed 30+ knots
- Hull construction: Glass- and carbon-fibre sandwich construction with PVC core, providing buoyancy and water resistance while eliminating internal stiffeners to maximise usable deck space
- Fendering: Heavy-duty D-runner profiles that absorb major impacts with purely cosmetic damage
- Deck: Self-bailing, with central bench seating and a helm station featuring a jockey seat, compact console and optional windscreen
The hull is designed for stability in harsh conditions, while the lightweight composite construction keeps weight, and operating costs, down, reflecting the design philosophy that runs through the entire ProZero range.
The Heart of the System: Swamp Shark Drive
What truly sets the ProZero 8M Riverine S apart from conventional riverine craft is its propulsion system. The vessel is equipped with the Swamp Shark Drive, a groundbreaking surface drive that Tuco, through ProZero International, holds exclusive distribution rights to across Europe, Ghana, Kenya and other markets.
Where conventional outboard motors and Z-drive systems are easily damaged by floating logs, rocks, sandbanks or other debris, the Swamp Shark Drive is engineered to absorb exactly that kind of impact without damaging the gearbox or drive system.
The technology is built on multiple patented, electronically controlled hydraulic solutions, including a self-contained, stainless-steel keel-cooling system with hydraulic stabilisers that makes the drive independent of external water cooling. Power steering delivers smooth, precise manoeuvring, and with no appendages protruding beneath the hull, the drive’s vulnerability to groundings and obstacles is significantly reduced.
The result is a vessel that can operate in shallow, debris-filled and heavily vegetated waters, river mouths, mangrove forests and swampy coastal stretches, where traditional craft would run aground or sustain damage. For the Kenya Navy, this means access to waters that would otherwise be unreachable, giving a genuine tactical advantage in operations that require a presence in hard-to-reach areas.
Strengthening Maritime Security in the Region
The partnership with the Kenya Navy is an important step in Tuco’s long-term strategy to deliver solutions that strengthen maritime security across Africa. The vessels support regional efforts to combat illegal fishing, smuggling and piracy, while also contributing to capacity-building within the African maritime sector.
With the establishment of ProZero Ghana LTD, Tuco has already built a strong presence in West Africa through local production and technology transfer in partnership with Ghanaian partners. The sale to the Kenya Navy shows that the same strategy is now firmly taking hold in East Africa, as Danish shipbuilding technology gains a foothold in an increasing number of African waters.
“We are proud to deliver ProZero vessels to an African navy. With Swamp Shark Drive technology and our ProZero vessels, we ensure that our customers get the best possible solution for demanding operations. We look forward to continuing to support the Kenya Navy and other maritime actors in the region with reliable and innovative vessels.”
– Jonas Pedersen, CEO, Tuco Marine Group
Tuco Continues Its Growth in Africa
Tuco Marine Group is seeing rising demand for robust, operationally flexible vessels in Africa, where both military and civilian operators need reliable solutions for demanding missions.
The delivery to the Kenya Navy is a further demonstration that the ProZero concept, low weight, high flexibility and strong lifecycle economy, combined with the Swamp Shark Drive’s unique ability to handle the most challenging waters, resonates with operators working in conditions that leave no room for failure.
Tuco expects to continue expanding its activities across the African continent in the years ahead.
