Keel Laying Ceremony of 1500 Tons Maritime Patrol Vessel (MPV) being built for Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) was held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Ltd (KS&EW) on 27 Jan 2017.
Federal Minister for Defence Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, graced the occasion as Chief Guest.
1500 Tons MPV is a state of the art, multi mission vessel with steel hull and aluminium superstructure.
MPV will be primarily used for maritime security, patrolling and policing operations. It will have the total length of 95 meters.
On the occasion, the Chief Guest congratulated KS&EW and M/s China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC) on achieving this important milestone one month ahead of the construction schedule, and said that it is yet another land mark project that speaks volumes of the evergreen friendship between China and Pakistan. He further said that with the developments of strategic project of CPEC, responsibilities of PN and PMSA have increased manifolds in order to protect maritime interest of Pakistan. While appreciating the sound planning of the management, he said that KS&EW has become a role model for other public sector industries, which is continuously making profit for last 10 years.
Earlier, MD KS&EW, R/Adm Syed Hasan Nasir Shah HI(M) in his address said that construction of 1500 Tons Maritime Patrol Vessel at Karachi Shipyard is part of contract between Ministry of Defence Production and M/s CSTC, for construction of 6 MPVs for PMSA. He said that these Maritime Patrol Vessels will act as a force multiplier for PMSA in safeguarding maritime frontiers of Pakistan together with Pakistan Navy. He added that all other ongoing projects at KS&EW, including 600 Tons MPV for PMSA, 32 Tons Bollard Pull Tugs, FAC(M)-4 and Multi-Purpose Barge are progressing satisfactorily. He also said that KS&EW is committed to deliver high quality platforms and services to the utmost satisfaction of the end users.
