Ares’ Important Export Success to Qatar
An important export contract signed on the second day of the International Defence Industry and Maritime Fair DIMDEX that took place in Doha has been completed. The contract to provide 17 coast guard patrol boats within the needs of the Qatari Coast Guard Command that Ares Shipyard has been following closely has been signed by the two parties. The ceremony was attended by Brig. Abdullah Saad Al Kharji, the Deputy Director of the Logistics Department representing the Ministry of Interior of the State of Qatar, Kerim Kalafatoğlu, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ares, the Undersecretary for Defence Industries Murad Bayar, the Ambassador to Doha, Ahmet Demirok, as well as many guests.
After the contract signing ceremony, answering the questions of the members of the media, Ares Maritime’s Chairman of the Board Kerim Kalafatoğlu mentioned that 17 sea vehicles are to be delivered within 56 months and emphasised that their target was to have the boats completed in 48 months.
The Selection of the Weapon Systems is to be Identified Under a Different Contract
Kalafatoğlu stated that 5 of the boats were to be 24 metres, 10 were to be 33.5 metres and 2 to be 47 metres and would be built with advanced composite materials and designed for rapid speed. Indicating that the period for the weapon systems of the boats would take place under a separate contract with Qatar, Kalafatoğlu said that they worked closely with Aselsan on many projects and that in terms of the choice of Aselsan in this project they also had this requirement. Stating that as a firm located in Antalya they were not at the forefront of maritime companies that are concentrated in Tuzla, Kalafatoğlu went on to add that aside from the contract signed with Qatar that encompasses 17 boats under a single contract, they were also undertaking the building of a specially designed 8 small ferryboats to carry passengers and vehicles to the artificial island in Qatar and that they had already delivered 2 ferryboats in this regard. Kalafatoğlu mentioned that high speed boat construction for Bahrain and Nigeria were on-going and that negotiations with Oman were continuing. Kalafatoğlu emphasised that design work varied according to the requests of the customer and possible needs.
Indicating that Ares had big dreams Kalafatoğlu said, “We have reached the point we have dreamt about. Unlike other producers we never provide ready, commercial off-the-shelf products. First, we listen to our customers. After completely determining the actual operational profile, we provide the most suitable design. This is not something that takes up to much in shipbuilding. Here we are unlike our competitors. This has provided important advantages to us in many programmes. The platforms we have delivered are not empty. As a result of our work, our customers up to now have not said they have another requirement.
Domestic Input in Ares Sea Platforms is at the 70% level
The domestic input rate in all platforms produced by Ares is around the 70% level indicated Kalafatoğlu and added, “Of course there is commercial products within this ratio. In these types of commercial activities, foreign materials and use of equipment is limited to things such as the main machinery. However, where there are projects that are more specific and where the technical specifications are more particular, this input is at the 55% level.”
Contract Covers the Training of the Operator and Maintenance Staff
Kalafatoğlu said that they would implement the training of 270 operators and maintenance staff relating to the boats within the terms of the contract and that contract negotiations on the maintenance and repair periods of the boats were continuing.
