According to the information from the sector officials that we had the opportunity to meet at the 9th Naval Systems Seminar held at the METU Culture and Congress Center on October 14-15, 2019, an agreement was made between the Turkish Naval Forces Command and Selah Shipyard for the delayed acceptance of the first ship in the Logistics Support Ship Project and the search for a new contractor was started for the completion and delivery of the second ship. 

Under the contract signed with the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) in December 2014, Selah Shipyard, which is building two Logistics Support Vessels, TCG Yüzbaşı (Captain) Güngör Durmuş (A-574) and TCG Üsteğmen (Lieutenant) Arif Ekmekçi (A-575) for the Turkish Naval Forces Command, declared concordat due to the economic crisis and this situation was reflected in the written and visual media last September. According to the information we received, the Turkish Naval Forces Command has recently reached an agreement with Selah Shipyard regarding the delayed acceptance of TCG Yüzbaşı Güngör Durmuş (A-574), which was constructed in 2015 and launched on November 8, 2016. The ship, which is stated to be 98% complete, is expected to enter the service of the Turkish Navy in the near future following the acceptance test process. In the meantime, the SSB terminated the agreement signed with Selah Shipyard. In his opening speech at the 9th Marine Systems Seminar held at the METU Culture and Congress Center on October 14-15, 2019, Alper KÖSE, Head of the SSB Naval Platforms Department, also shared information about the contract termination and said, “the Logistics Support Ship contractor was declared concordat because of financial problems. We terminated the contract, but we will continue the project. So, there will be no loss in the project, there is a delay, but we will continue.” 

On the other hand, it is stated that the second ship of the project, TCG Üsteğmen Arif Ekmekçi (A-575) which was launched in July 2017, is still missing a large number equipment and the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) selected STM for the completion and delivery of the vessel. 

The Logistic Support Ships have a length of 106m, a width of 16.8m, and a carrying capacity of 6,000 DWT. The primary mission of the vessels is to provide replenishment at sea (RAS)/underway replenishment (UNREP) to the Turkish Navy ships and friendly elements. The vessels can carry 336 tons of helicopter fuel, 594 tons of drinking water, and 8 containers of food-cargo-rations. The ships also have a large helicopter deck that allows take-off and landing and can refuel helicopters. The helipad allows day and night helicopter take-off and landing and is designed to support multi-purpose helicopters up to 15 tons. Logistics Support Ships can complement a crew of 82 personnel and are able to reach 12 nautical miles per hour.