The steel cutting ceremony of the 17,000 tons fleet tanker, being built for Pakistan Navy, was held at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works on Wednesday. Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Defence Production, was the chief guest.
The ceremony was attended by Ambassador of Turkey, Sadiq Babur Girgin, Vice Admiral M. Zakaullah, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Murad Bayar, Under Secretary Defence Industries Turkey, Lieutenant General Tanvir Tahir (retd), Secretary MoDP, senior Turkish delegates and other high-ranking civil and military officials from Turkey and Pakistan.
Pakistan Navy's fleet tanker will primarily provide logistics support to PN units at sea through transfer of liquid and dry cargo.
The ship will also be able to undertake anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel operations through embarked helicopters.
The same helicopter can also be used for search and rescue operations.
The ship will be fitted with latest medical facilities to provide medical support PN fleet units as well as during disaster relief operations.
The ship will be able to independently operate at sea for three months. The ship will be capable to transfer stores at sea through two rigs, one on each side plus stern refuelling facility with day night capability.
On the occasion, the chief guest appreciated Karachi Shipyard for not only being a profit bearing unit of MoDP but also paying taxes for the last 2 years. He said that during the recent years, KSEW has delivered various vessels, achieving all construction milestones with international standards of quality along with complete satisfaction of its customers. This reflects the complete revitalisation of KSEW.
On behalf of Government of Pakistan, the Minister assured that the complete revitalisation of KSEW to help sustain the progress of this organization.
He further said that considering the significance of shipbuilding industry, establishment of a new shipyard with greater ship repair facilities at Gawadar is also under consideration at the highest level of government and this project will materialise very soon.
Earlier Managing Director of KSEW, Rear Admiral Syed Hasan Nasir Shah, in his welcome address thanked MoDP, Government of Pakistan, and especially Pakistan Navy for their continued patronage.
He highlighted the brotherly relations with Turkey and said that this everlasting friendship now enters a new era as we together undertake this mega project of building the fleet tanker.
Admiral Shah further said that the KSEW is fully equipped with infrastructure and has highly trained work force of technicians and engineers who are ready to undertake more challenging project of fleet tanker with zeal and energy.