The United States government on Saturday donated five maritime interdiction patrol boats to Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency (MSA) at Karachi shipyard, significantly enhancing the agency's coastal interdiction and patrol capabilities.
US Army Brigadier General Michael Nagata, US Office of the Defence Representative-Pakistan deputy commander, officially donated the 13- meter (42-foot) Fast Patrol Boats to Rear Admiral Tahseen Ullah Khan, MSA Director General, during a hand-over ceremony in Karachi.
The event was attended by Steve Fakan, US Consul General to Karachi, and more than a dozen US and Pakistani military representatives, says a US Embassy press release issued here. Each of the new vessels are equipped with two 565-horsepower caterpillar diesel engines that enable them to operate in inclement weather up to 300 nautical miles offshore with a maximum speed of 72+ KPH (45+ MPH). Known as Fast Patrol Boats, they greatly increase the MSA's ability to patrol Pakistan's coastal waters and conduct a wide range of maritime operations, the press release said.
The US government will donate four more Fast Patrol Boats to the MSA later this year. In total, the nine boats and spare parts are valued at approximately $10 million. "These patrol boats are a gift from the United States to support Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency to assist them in their critical mission as they protect and serve the people of Pakistan," said Brigadier General Nagata. "Whether it's search and rescue, combating smugglers, preventing crime or protecting Pakistan's coastal areas, we hope the increased capabilities these boats provide greatly enhance the MSA's ability to conduct the full spectrum of maritime operations."
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