Coast Guard Research and Rescue Vessel “TCSG Güven” Constructed by RMK Marine was Delivered
RMK Marine, following the delivery of TCSG Umut and TCSG Dost vessels, accomplished a new delivery within the scope of the greatest warship construction project in Turkish private sector history. Minister of Interior Mr. Muammer Güler, Governor of Istanbul Mr. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Adnan Özbal, Undersecretary for Defense Industries Mr. Murad Bayar, Koç Holding’s CEO Mr. Turgay Durak, Koç Holding Defense Industry, Other Automotive and Information Technology Group President Mr. Kudret Önen and a great number of invitees attended the ceremony held for the delivery of TCSG Güven.
In his statement at the ceremony, Koç Holding Defense Industry, Other Automotive and Information Technology Group President Kudret Önen stated that the vessels Dost and Umut delivered before summer are now performing their duties and said “We are proud that one of the delivered vessel is performing at the Mediterranean while other is carrying out its tasks successfully at the Black Sea”. Kudret Önen mentioned that the success in the delivery and launching stages of Dost and Umut within the scope of the project and how proud they were of the great shipyard they created and continued, “We have been working on these both for this project’s sake and for the success of greater future projects”. He also added, “Surely the Defense Industry Executive Committee’s cancellation of MİLGEM tender to which we were invited by the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries during the contract negotiations have disappointed us. We are looking forward to the result of the LPD Project (helicopter carrier) that is currently under the decision stage.”
Mr. Kudret Önen evaluated the works accomplished by RMK Marine Shipyard and said, “Within the framework of Coast Guard Research and Rescue Vessel Project, we established a team having the knowledge and experience for the integration, test and delivery of the weapon systems, command control systems and other complicated systems you may guess of a corvette of 88 meters in our shipyard. I believe that RMK Marine Shipyard shall successfully assume a role in the construction of warships in future projects”. Kudret Önen underlined that TCGS Güven would perform successfully in the protection of our seas and coasts similar to vessels Dost and Umut. Önen also added that they aimed to deliver the fourth vessel by January.
2 Thousand People Rescued Each Year
In his speech at the ceremony Minister of Interior Mr. Muammer Güler stated that they were proud of the delivery of TCSG Güven and said, “I have attended many ceremonies for the delivery and launching of foreign vessels but this particular one is ‘our own vessel’. This vessel shall provide security in all areas that fall into Coast Guard Command’s responsibility. Güler mentioned that he has been observing all the phases that Coast Guard Command has been through since its establishment over 31 years and said, “With its solid infrastructure, powerful and modern platforms and qualified personnel, this institution has reached a significant point in marine. In addition to providing security in surrounding seas, our Coast Guard Command which has reached a great standard as per its organizational structure and platforms and that serves as a model among the coast guard commands of the European Union countries, is executing its primary tasks of research and rescue, struggles with illegal immigration and smuggling, assists in providing help in natural disasters, fights illegal fishing and environmental pollution, delivers security from the sea to the strategically important facilities. Rescuing an average number of 2 thousand people bears a great importance.”
Mr. Muammer Güler also added that the Coast Guard Command, as the police force that provides security in our seas, is continuing to strengthen its current structure in order to prevent illegal activities in seas. Güler stated that the coast surveillance radar system project was the final point in this respect and mentioned that the Undersecretary for Defense Industries and the National Defense Ministry were taking precautions through defense industry funds in order to provide security in land borders as well.
100th Coast Guard Rescue Vessel
In his speech at the ceremony, Coast Guard Command Rear Admiral Adnan Özbal stressed the importance of providing security in the seas in parallel with increasing security issues and mentioned that the Coast Guard Command has brought its level of capacities and facilities to a perfect level in the last ten years by working on 7/24 basis in line with the development of the ship construction sector. Özbal said that as the 100th Coast guard rescue vessel, TCSG Güven will be bringing great security to the seas.
Undersecretary for Defense Industries Mr. Murad Bayar reminded the invitees that military ships were being manufactured mostly with foreign technologies in the past and underlined in his speech the importance of covering the demands of Coast Guard Command through domestic design and technologies such as TCSG Güven vessel. Bayar said that the negotiations for the fourth vessel was ongoing and said, “The first two vessels delivered have traveled for approximately 1.300-1.400 hours within 6 months. We started with a good performance. Another significant project of the Coast Guard Command is the Coast Surveillance Radar System Project”.
TCSG Güven’s Features
TCSG Güven, which was constructed for the demands of Turkish Coast Guard Command as per NATO/international standards and have overall length of 88.6 meters, width of 12.2 meters and weight of 1700 tones, are equipped to perform multitasks such as patrolling, preventing smuggling, fire extinguishing and preventing and controlling environmental pollution in addition to their search and rescue tasks.
With their search radars and electro optical sensors, they have the capability to perform research and rescue operations and coordinate surface and air elements involving in such research and rescue operations. The vessels have fittings required for the taking-off and landing of helicopters up to 10 tones under day and night conditions. They have inflatable surface barriers of 250 m length in order to accumulate waste oil/contamination on the surface and chemical injection system in order to neutralize the contamination through chemicals. The injectors are able to disperse 200 liters of diluter over 10 thousand square meters when cruising at 16 knots speed.
The vessels also have JP-5, fuel, fresh water and lubricant supply stations at NATO standards and have vertical supply capabilities when cruising.
