Search and Rescue Vessels “Dost” and “Umut” Are Ready For Duty
Two out of the four search and rescue vessels, the TCSG “Dost” and the TCSG “Umut,” built by RMK Marine for the Coast Guard Command for search and rescue, patrol against smuggling, sea pollution and the struggle against illegal elements, were delivered to the Coast Guard Command with a ceremony. The search and rescue vessels will undertake duties in all Turkish coasts. The last two vessels, the TCSG “Güven” and the TCSG “Yaşam,” undergoing tests, are planned to be delivered during 2013.
The delivery ceremony, in which the building of the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Vessels commenced in 2009 and the contract signed in 2008, took place at RMK Marine’s Tuzla facilities. The delivery ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Kemal Yardımcı, Undersecretary for Defence Industries Murad Bayar, Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Hasan Uşaklıoğlu, Koç Holding Defence Industry, Other Automotive and Information Group President Kudret Önen, Undersecretariat for Defence Industries’ officials, military officials and representatives of sub-contracting firms.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kudret Önen, President of Koç Holding’s Defence Industry, Other Automotive and Information Group, stated that this project was a source of great pride for RMK Marine and at the same time a significant collaboration with the private sector that will play an important role in the development of the defence industry. Önen said, “Collaboration with the private sector will make an important contribution to the economy and lead the way for the sector representatives to create value added to our country, allocate resources to R&D and provide employment.” In his speech Önen indicated that in the construction of the platform, technicians and engineers, many of whom from overseas, received 689 man-days of training in project management, design, construction, equipping, maintenance and repair and that this gain was very important for them.
Önen: “Contract Negotiations for Milgem are Continuing”
The Milgem project’s multiple production, as one of the most important projects of the Turkish defence industry, will be undertaken by RMK Marine, noted Kudret Önen, and stated that contract negotiations with the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) for the 6 vessels were continuing. Indicating that their projects on warships were on-going, Önen continued by saying: “RMK Marine engineers, in designing a ship suitable to the high performance and quality requirements of the Naval Forces, in which the intellectual property rights belong to us, enabled us to be in the tender stage of the LPD Project. After the RFI for the TF 100 Air Defence Frigate feasibility prepared upon the request of the Ministry of National Defence, our work on the subject continues. In particular, with the know-how we have on warship projects, we fully believe that we can contribute at the highest level for the model that will be determined by the SSM. We possess the capability, capacity, know-how and infrastructure in meeting the high performance and quality requirements of the Naval Forces. Including large warships within the structure of RMK Marine, we will continue our work on building all types of military ships.”
Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Hasan Uşaklıoğlu emphasized that with the vessels they have received they have further increased their strength among coast guard organisations and by creating the opportunity for new exports for the national ship industry it would encourage further significant advances. Uşaklıoğlu stated that the Coast Guard S&R vessels had the capability to carry helicopters and carry out their duties uninterrupted in all extreme weather conditions.
Bayar: ‘‘The Size of our Maritime Projects will Exceed 5 Billion Dollars.’’
The Undersecretary for Defence Industry Murad Bayar made important announcements at the delivery ceremony. Undersecretary Bayar stated that: “We have started a large number of projects during the last decade for the vessels of the Naval Security Forces of our Coast Guard Command to be built in private sector shipyards in Tuzla. Today, the total value of on-going projects in Tuzla exceeds 2 billion dollars. We have been successful in all of these projects. We delivered the vessels using the most advanced technology according to the requirements of world standards. The flagship “Heybeliada,” the first of the Milgem ships, is proudly serving our Naval Forces. Together with the project contracts we have targeted to be signed this year, the total value of our projects at Tuzla will exceed 5 billion dollars. The domestic rate of these projects is around 70-80 percent. All of the electric systems, weapon systems software and sensors are being produced in Turkey. Today we are handing over “Dost” and “Umut.” If we have made even the slightest contribution in increasing the capability of the Coast Guard Command, it is a source of satisfaction and pride to us.”
The Deputy Minister of National Defence, Hasan Kemal Yardımcı, stating that these ships can now be built in Turkey through domestic means, said: “We, at the Ministry, have the objective of meeting our requirements through domestic means. Within this objective, we will evaluate all opportunities for air, land and sea. These ships are not easily built. The Ministry is ready to provide all possible support from overseas requests. We are on your side in all projects throughout the globe.”
After the closing of the remarks at the ceremony, a plaque presentation took place on behalf of the occasion. Later the captains of the TCSG 701 “Dost” and TCSG “Umut” took command of the vessels after the swearing-in ceremony.
Coast Guard Search & Rescue Vessels
The Coast Guard Search & Rescue Vessels are to be equipped with advanced weapons and electronic systems, and the design and production of the command control system software, electro-optical director, communication systems, and gyro and operator consoles will all be carried out in Turkey. The ships, in addition to S&R tasks will also be utilized in fire fighting, environmental pollution protection and smuggling prevention operations.
The ships to be built under the project are actually at Corvette size and tonnage. The ships are to be 88 meters long, at 1,700 deadweight tons and with a cruising speed at 22 knots. With an average of 92 personnel, operations up to sea state 6 and helicopter operations can be performed up to sea state 5 by the ships.
