STEEL CUTTING CEREMONY OF 17,000 TONS FLEET TANKER BEING BUILT FOR PAKISTAN NAVY AT KSEW

 STEEL CUTTING Ceremony of the 17,000 Tons FLEET TANKER, being built for Pakistan Navy, was held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works on 27 November 2013.  Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Defence Production graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The ceremony was attended by Ambassador of Turkey,   Vice Admiral M Zakaullah, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Mr. Murad Bayar, Undersecretary Defence Industries Turkey, Lt Gen (R) Tanvir Tahir HI(M), 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 helicopters can also be used for search and rescue operations. The ship will be fitted with latest medical facilities to provide medical support to PN fleet units as well as during disaster relief operations. The ship will be able to independently operate at sea for 3 x months. The ship will be capable to transfer stores at sea through 2 x rigs, one on each side plus stern refuelling facility with day night capability.

On the occasion, the honourable 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, KS&EW has delivered various vessels, achieving all construction milestones with international standards of quality along with complete satisfaction of its customers. This reflects the complete revitalization of KS&EW. On behalf of Government of Pakistan, he assured that all shipbuilding orders will be given to KS&EW to help sustain the progress of this organization. He further said that considering the significance of Shipbuilding Industry, establishment of a new shipy

ard with greater ship repair facilities at Gawadar is also under active consideration at the highest level of Government and this project will materialize very soon.

Earlier MD KS&EW, Rear Admiral Syed Hasan Nasir Shah SI(M) 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. He further said KS&EW is fully equipped with infrastructure and have highly trained workforce of technicians and engineers who are ready to undertake more challenging project of Fleet Tanker with zeal and energy.