Shipyard begins work on last corvette

Dubai: Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) on Sunday said it began work on the last of six Baynunah corvettes being built for the UAE Navy in the region's largest-ever naval construction programme.

The Commander of UAE Naval Forces, Rear Admiral Ahmad Al Sabab Al Tenaiji activated a computerised plasma cutting machine at ADSB's Musaffah complex to begin cutting the steel for the 72-metre vessel.

The Baynunah Class vessels are highly sophisticated multi-mission corvettes equipped with cutting-edge combat systems and have the capability to perform a wide range of military operations, including defence against both air and surface threats.

The vessel has been designed by France's Constructions Mecaniques De Normandie (CMN). The first of class vessel is now being outfitted at CMN's Cherbourg Yard under sub-contract from ADSB and the remaining five are under construction at ADSB.

ADSB chief executive William Saltzer said: "The Baynunah programme is an international project involving many equipment suppliers. It is both an ambitious and challenging programme that has stretched and grown the capabilities of all of the parties involved.

"Now all six vessels are under construction at the same time and the vast amount of concurrent work requires the continuous close cooperation of the shipyards in Abu Dhabi and Cherbourg, the equipment suppliers, and the UAE Navy Programme Management Teams both here and in France.

"It is the first time a naval shipbuilding project of this magnitude has been undertaken in this region and the teamwork, which is critical to the success of the programme, among all the companies involved and the UAE Navy, is greatly appreciated."

ADSB is the only specialist naval shipbuilder in the Gulf region and constructs vessels in steel, aluminium and composite materials.

ADSB, a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), was set up in 1996 in cooperation with the UAE Offsets Group (UOG) and has built a strong reputation for quality construction and repair.