May 25, 2018 | 20:51 (GMT+7)
Multipurpose rescue vessel to be built
PANO - The Navy together with Factory Z189 of the General Department of Defense Industry on May 24 ‘laid down the keel’ (a nautical term meaning to commence the process of constructing the hull) of the multipurpose rescue gear ship, to be provisionally registered as MSSARS 9316, in Hai Phong City.
Present at the ceremony were Rear Admiral Pham Hoai Nam, Chief-of-the-Navy, Major General Ho Quang Tuan, Deputy-Director and Chief-of-Staff of the General Department of Defense Industry, representatives of the relevant agencies of the Ministry of National Defense and the Damen Group.
The multipurpose rescue gear ship will have a displacement of nearly 4,000 tons, a helicopter landing pad at the prow, and other systems which will allow the ship to operate in strong winds (up to level 9) and high waves (up to level 12) to effect rescue operations on disabled or submerged submarines.
It will be the first-ever such multipurpose rescue ship in the Vietnamese naval forces and it is expected to augment Vietnamese submarine operations in both the national seas and islands and any potential joint international rescue missions.
Addressing the event, Rear Admiral Pham Hoai Nam required Factory Z189 to closely collaborate with relevant agencies to conclude the project, contributing to put the ship into operation as scheduled. The MSSARS 9316 is expected to undergo sea trials in about 27 months.
Translated by Trung Thanh