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Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) yesterday announced the
These new contracts add to the growing backlog of naval work already
underway at the unique local shipbuilding and repair company, as reported
a few months ago. ADSB won an approximately two billion dirham award in
late 2003 for the construction of four Baynunah Naval Corvettes.
The first of these three new contracts involves the construction of
four Navy Fast Supply Vessels (FSV'.s) in cooperation with the company's
Swedish design partners, SwedeShip Marine AB.
These 26-meter FSV's will be quite similar to the twelve Ghannatha Fast
Troop Transport vessels already being built for the UAE Navy by ADSB.
Like Ghannatha, the new high-speed vessels will be built in aluminum and
will have a water jet propulsion system. Along with their primary role
as a supply vessel including supply of cargo, fuel, water and
electrical power, the FSV's can be reconfigured to perform a variety of other
troop support missions including rapid deployment by sea of facilities
for medical care, workshops and food service.
ADSB's Chairman Abdullah Nasser bin Huwaileel Al Mansouri said: "This
contract builds upon our strong success with the Ghannatha Program and
continues the important expansion of our aluminum ship construction
capabilities."
The company's second new contract involves the complex, mid-life refit
of two 44-meter Patrol Vessels for the UAE Navy. These vessels were
originally built in Germany during the 1980's and are similar to the six
TNC-45 naval vessels already refit by ADSB.
"Our work scope for the 44-meter boats includes the repair or
replacement of all major mechanical and electrical systems, the repair of the
entire hull and superstructure, as well as the design and installation of
several new state-of-the-art ship systems", said Chief Executive
Officer Lawrence Holliday.
The third new contract is for the construction of a 42-meter Naval
Landing Craft, similar in design to one that was awarded to ADSB last year
and is currently undergoing final Delivery Trials at ADSB.
Both vessels were designed by one of the Company's design partners in
Singapore and provide a unique set of capabilities that are specially
tailored to the customer's mission requirements. This will be the fifth
military Landing Craft built to date by ADSB and continues the
development of this important product line within the company.
The other regional customers have expressed deep interest in this
product and ADSB is already in detailed discussions with another regional
Navy regarding landing craft construction.
"The award of these contracts is yet another indication of the
confidence the UAE Armed Forces places in ADSB. We welcome that confidence and
believe that other regional armed forces are developing a strong
interest in our capabilities as well," said Al Mansouri. "Each new contract
provides ADSB with new opportunities to expand our reputation for great
products built by a great company." ADSB, a Public Stock Company listed
on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market, was established in 1996 in
cooperation with the UAE Offsets Group (UOG). It operates a modern, world-class
shipyard facility in Abu Dhabi with the ability to build and repair
complex commercial and military vessels up to 200 tons in weight and 85
meters in length. |
