At the DIMDEX 2018 fair held in Doha, Qatar on 14-18 March 2018, the final contract for the supply of two Cadet Training Ships (CTS) was signed between Anadolu Shipyard Chairman Mr. Süalp Ürkmez and QENF officials.

Making a statement for our magazine after the contract award, Anadolu Shipyard Chairman Süalp Ürkmez stated that the supply of two Cadet Training ships has now become official with the completion of the long- expected approval process and said: “We will supply two armed training ships for the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces. These platforms can also perform as an armed combat training ship as well as patrol tasks. We have been exerting great efforts for about three years for these ships that have special areas for both cadets and instructors and are designed by our shipyard engineers. A study was conducted for about a year and a half for the technical requirements of the ship. With the completion of this process, in August 2017 Qatar decided to procure the ships. We signed the final contract today after the contract negotiations which lasted seven months. We will deliver the first ship within 30 months and the second one will be delivered within 6 months after the delivery of the first one.”

Stating that in addition to the Anadolu Shipyard, TAIS Shipyards corporation is also following projects in Qatar, Ürkmez said that negotiations with the parties continue and that the expectation is that TAIS will realize their first sales in Qatar this year.

Cadet Training ships will be approximately 90mt in length and will have full load displacement of 1,950 tons. Besides basic naval cadet training, CTS will have a helipad for a medium sized helicopter on the stern and will be capable of providing combat management and weapons training to trainees as well. Secondary missions such as offshore patrol duties can also be carried out.