5th Naval Systems Seminar Brought the Maritime Sector Together
Fifth of the annual Naval Systems Seminar was held in METU Culture and Convention Center with the participation of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) officials, military officials, representatives of the defence industry companies, universities and research centers.
Mr. Zafer Betoner gave the opening speech of the seminar and emphasized the importance of the seminar for the sharing of the sectoral information and extended his gratitude to the participants while expressing his contentmentabout the ever-increasing participation to the seminar. METU’s Vice Rector Volkan Atalay held the floor for the following opening speech. In his speech, Atalay mentioned about METU’s close cooperation with the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries and Defence Industry companies for the sector’s deepening and technological sufficiency.
Deputy Undersecretary of SSM Mr. Serdar Demirel took the floor at the opening speech and declared their target for the optimum production of the naval surface platforms by the Turkish Industry also stated in the 2009-2016 defence industry’s sector’s strategy document and while mentioning their steps towards the target he noted that they were pleased about getting results from the MILGEM, YTKB, Coast Guard Research and Rescue Boat, LCT projects.
Demirel: "We aim to gather the shipyards of the industry under a single organization"
In his speech Mr. Demirel also mentioned that the maritime projects were slowing down and said that not many new projects for ship construction existed. Demirel underlined that members of the industry shall always renew themselves in the maritime sector for survival, and noted the significance of logistics and exportation for the sustainable growth of the sector and the importance of efforts for taking part in half-life modernization projects at international markets with this sector’s technological infrastructure. Demirel mentioned that the future of the sector depended on the establishment of a triple trivet composed of; "Primarily, presenting the most innovative products to the markets of the world. Secondly, competitiveness with affordable prices and last but not least quality. First two components are the characteristics belonging also to most of our competitors throughout the world, our level of quality shall diversify us.’’
In addition to the aforementioned, Demirel talked about their plan to establish a consortium in the ship building industry in the new era, and while mentioning the necessity to form a roof organization for gathering the shipyards of the sector, said "There are not a lot of countries with military shipyards in the world".
Mustafa Şeker, Head of Naval Systems at the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, also expressed that their new strategic plan was to gain Turkey superiority in the defence and security technologies and currently they were dealing with the domestic development and R&D projects where in the past they were relatively involved with the joint production projects and direct procurement.
Şeker, stating that one their most significant goals for the future was to master critical technologies within the system and said, "We manufactured products in various areas and platforms of the sector, but in order to fully own these products we have to apply the critical technologies for their production process as well. Lack of such technologies become drawbacks and create barriers like export licenses during the selling procedure. Owning critical technologies is one of our prominent targets for the next era". In his presentation Şeker emphasized the importance of the sustainable industry through deepening and supporting the development of the sub-industry and stated that they would be focusing on the design projects and increasing the number of R&D and testing centers in the next era. Additionally Şeker noted that "logistics" was the new topic in their agenda and that their approach to this matter was within the framework of four principles.
Şeker said that they hope to actualize the following in the next era; Performance Based Logistics; Involvement of the main contractors to the logistic procedures; Main contractor and end-user working cooperatively after the operation/ maintenance procedure after the delivery; Association of Modernization and Maintenance; System maintenance/repair simultaneously becoming a modernization and updating process and Life Cycle Management Principles.
Şeker: "We launched 19 Contracts worth 8 Billion Dollars as Naval Systems Department"
Mustafa Şeker extended detailed information on the projects they executed as the Naval Systems Department in his presentation. He said that until now contracts worth 8 billion dollars have been put into action in four sub-groups as; Amphibious, Support, Patrol and Battle Ships and mentioned the following contracts made in the recent year: Fleet Replenishment Ship design package, Submarine Rescue Mother Ship (MOSHIP) and Rescue and Towing Ship (RATSHIP), MTA Seismic Research Ship, SAR-33 system/instrument modification project.
While giving information on the ongoing projects Şeker said that one ship was delivered in the MILGEM project, and under the scope of YTKB project 3 ships were delivered in the past year and 7 ships were handed over up to this date, that the delivery rate of the Interceptor Boats were above 20 %, 4 of the SAER-35 were handed over, 3 of the 25t Coast Guard Boats were delivered, and in LCT project 8 ships were delivered within such a short period of six months. He added that Coast Search and Rescue Ship shall be delivered by the end of year 2012.
National Submarine Project is in the Agenda of Year 2013
Şeker mentioned about the short-term projects and stated that the tendering procedure for the MILGEM-Sis still continuing and that they intend to reach a decision at the Defence Industry Execution Committee meeting in December. Şeker also noted that the design phase of the Fleet Replenishment Ship was launched and that it would last a year and following this phase they would start the construction process. He added that Air-Cushion Landing Project and LPD Project are among the short-term projects in their agenda and moreover they hope to launch the National Submarine Project in 2013 with the commencement of a conceptual design project.
TF-2000 Counts the Days
Şeker, giving information about the Frigate project (of which the feasibility studies were accomplished by the Naval Forces Command) that would soon be launched, stated that they give significant importance to this Frigate project as through this project they intend to preserve and further develop the capabilities they obtained with the MILGEM Corvette. Şeker said that Turkish Type Assault Boat, 600t Class Coast Guard Boat, Mine Exploration Vessel and Sailing School Ship projects are in their agenda in the long run.
Sustainable Industry is the Priority of Maritime Projects
Şeker underlined the need to preserve the domestic competition for the sustainable industry and emphasized the importance of differentiation through design and engineering capabilities and thus launching a trademark. Şeker also mentioned about the need to make use of the existing exporting opportunities and declared that they are carrying out a study as the Naval Systems Department and shared his vision about the next ten years and carried on:
"Total value of these 13 projects that shall be accomplished within the next 10 years is approximately 7 billion USD. This amount is 700 million USD per annum and 500 million USD of the amount shall be for system/material supply and rest shall be for the shipyard share. Five main contractor candidates with an annual endorsement of 40 million USD for the sake of their companies are exerting great efforts to get a share from this project of 200 million dollars. The military ship building industry in Turkey is not sustainable now and our national shipyards are falling behind their rivals in the world. The engineering teams formed during the bidding procedure disappear during the construction process, there is a problem in preserving the experience and so weplan to establish a designing formation together with the Turkish Armed Forces + Sector + SSM trio." Şeker said that they are aiming to establish two main production companies in composite-bodied ships and a single roof company that shall operate in all other groups (amphibious, support and battle ships) and planning to form a trademark with this consolidation.
MILGEM in Aden Bay in November
Şeker presented information on the products with exporting potential as well and declared that MILGEM Corvette being successfully used by the Naval Forces Command in the recent year shall start operating in Aden Bay this November and that it has a grave selling potential. He mentioned that on the other hand the YTKB in great demand and sold to ally countries and LCT to participate in a military exercise in Egypt shall have great sales potentials. Mustafa Şeker expressed their following expectations from the shipyards: Highly-qualified labour input, bringing the R&D and technological investments to a sufficient level, giving prominence to designing and engineering capabilities, forming a trademark through synergies, logistical infrastructure and eagerness to international cooperation.
Şeker said that they are going through a transition period and maturing in the maritime industry. He announced a Workshop called "Lessons Learnt in the Military Ship Construction Industry" that shall be held in April 2013 with the participation of the stakeholders and carried on: "As a sector, we shall evaluate the results we obtained from the projects we executed until now. We have a draft agenda for the workshop composed of lessons learnt in project management, problems encountered within the Turkish Armed Forces process, issues related to R&D and exports".
Recent Developments Related to Maritime Sector Discussed in the Seminar
During the 5th Naval Systems Seminar that lasted for two days and presentations on Underwater Acoustic studies, radar systems in naval platforms, communication solutions, latest trends in the construction technologies, modernization studies, UAV systems deployed on the ships, naval vessels design and advanced engineering analyses were realized by the participants in various sessions. Besides, Royal Navy Commander David C.K.Barker, as a guest speaker on behalf of the UK Navy, extended a presentation on the potential cooperation opportunities between Turkey and UK and on behalf of the Spanish Navy Cdr. Gonzalo SanzAlisedo gave a presentation on ‘‘New Spanish Navy Frigate for 2025".
