Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of National Defence M. Vecdi Gönül said, “Pursuant to the requirements of our Coast Guard Command, our Ministry with the guidance of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries and construction by RMK Marine, are here as a witness to the launching of the third out of the four ships within the coverage of the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Project. It is obvious to all of us on the importance that should be accorded to the sea border security of our country that is surrounding by three seas. Carrying out its mission attached to our Ministry of Interior, supporting the organizational structure of the Coast Guard Command in its capabilities equipped with modern technology is continuing to increase its capacity day by day as an organization that we praise.”

“Sustaining defence and security capabilities can only take place with the strengthening and continuity of our national defence industry, stated Minister Gönül and stated, “I am pleased to say that the policies of our government on the one hand and within the framework of the support provided towards modernizing the vehicles and equipment needed by the Armed Forces on the other hand, through the projects overseen by our Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, our national industry has reached the level in which and important part of our defence needs can be met. Our basic strategy in building above water platforms completely through local means has begun to give results.”

Minister of National Defence Vecdi Gönül went on to add,”The new type of patrol boats, the rapid amphibious landing ship and projects directed at coast guard platforms have provided a breakthrough in the military shipbuilding industry and as a result local content in the ships built has reached 70 percent. The best proof of the level reached by our defence industry was the fair that took place a few days ago in Istanbul. We all witnessed with pride the wide range of our national defence industry products including military ships, the superior technology and the high quality standards. Our Prime Minister, bearing in mind the developments in the defence industry during the last period has set the target of 8 billion dollars in sales for 2016 in order to strengthen and sustain our defence industry. In considering the current military shipbuilding industry which has an important place in defence industry, we are pleased to see the start of success in exports of military ships built with local resources.”


Rahmi M. Koç: “Expansion of the defence industry, generating technology and undertaking exports by our country is very important for our industry.”

Speaking at the launching ceremony for TCSG Umut, Koç Holding Honorary Chairman Rahmi M. Koç reminded the audience that the contract relating to the project was signed in 2007 between RMK Marine and the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries and that TCSG Dost and TCSG Güven were launched in 2010 and stated that RMK Marine was very pleased to be here together for the ceremony to launch the third ship of the project, the TCSG Umut. Indicating that the port acceptance tests for the first ship Dost were at the completion stage and that cruise tests would begin soon and that the second ship Güven’s port acceptance tests would also start shortly, Rahmi M. Koç said the following in his remarks: “At a time when the shipbuilding industry is going through a difficult period, we at RMK Marine continued with our quality and capacity investments. I believe that RMK Marine with each passing day is approaching the mission and vision of becoming the largest shipyard in building military ships for our country, that generates projects, creates technology, and carries out the service and maintenance of ships after it’s built. We have undertaken important engineering investments for the LST and Moship/Ratship projects. Similar technology and design investments also took place for the LPD project.”

Indicating that in the development of the private sector in the defence industry, the trust given by the public to Turkish engineers, Turkish technicians and Turkish workers played a large role, Rahmi M. Koç said: “I believe that supporting and expanding the industry sector that creates value added in our country, allocates resources for research and development and generates employment is very important.”

Having won the construction tender of the Ministry of National Defence for the project in building the four Coast Guard Research and Rescue Ships within the framework of the requirements of the Coast Guard Command, RMK Marine, as the first shipyard in the history of the private sector to undertake the largest warship project, launched the third ship, the TCSG Umut, within the coverage of the project, in a ceremony to mark the occasion. Based on the project, RMK Marine launched the first ship TCSG Dost on 9 June 2010 and the second TCSG Güven on 17 December 2010. Within the coverage of the tender the construction of the fourth ship, the TCSG Ya?am continues. The ships will be presented to the Coast Guard Command in 2012.

The Success of Turkish Engineers
RMK Marine is the first and only shipyard that formed the electronic systems engineering department in connection with the four Coast Guard Search and Rescue Ship Project. The shipyard includes 70 administrative personnel, 153 engineers, 81 mechanics and technicians and 346 shipyard workers. Since the beginning of the project in 2008 up to now, 1,400.000 man/hours of labor have taken place. One ship has 6,000 electric cables and a total of 150 km of wiring and aside from this, 30 km of pipes of various sizes and 3,300 valves have been used. In addition to search and rescue missions, the ships will also conduct patrolling, anti-smuggling and environmental disaster prevention activities. The ships will be equipped to fully carry out all missions with the capability to undertake operations with helicopters. Within the project’s coverage, the command control system software and equipment, the electro-optic director, the communication systems, gyro systems, weapon control systems, consoles and similar important military systems have been locally designed and built and the weapon and electronic systems’ platform integration can be realized. Furthermore, training can take place for ship personnel in these areas.