ÜMİT ENGİNSOY ANKARA- Hürriyet Daily News
This photo shows Turkey’s first nationally built warship, the TCG Heybeliada which entered service on Sept 27. AA photo

Turkey’s thriving naval defense industry is building specialized support vessels for the Turkish Navy in parallel to its involvement in the construction of conventional warships.

The latest examples of such vessels include a submarine rescue mother ship (MOSHIP) and two rescue and towing vessels (RATSHIPs), the first deal of its kind in the country.

Turkey’s procurement authorities have signed a contract with a local shipyard for the production of one MOSHIP and two RATSHIPs.

The agreement was signed the last week of October between the country’s procurement office, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), and Istanbul Tersanesi, a private shipyard based in Istanbul. SSM or company officials did not reveal the contract price.

Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz said that although it took three years to conclude contract negotiations with the shipyard, it was the government’s determination to locally build the military platforms the country required for its modernization programs.

SSM Chief Murad Bayar said the Turkish Navy was intent on awarding its vessel contracts to private local shipyards.

Under the contract, Istanbul Tersanesi will deliver the rescue vessels to the Navy within three years. The Turkish MOSHIP will be able to evacuate the crew of a distressed submarine at depths of up to 600 meters, according to company officials.

The proposed vessel is 91 meters long, with a beam of 18.5 meters and draught of 5 meters. Space is provided for 131 personnel, and the ship has a maximum speed of 18 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles at a speed of 14 knots.

The ship also will be able to perform rescue and towing operations for broken-down, wrecked or beached vessels.

The two planned RATSHIPs will be 69 meters long with a beam of 13.5 meters and draught of 4 meters. They will be able to attain the same speed and endurance levels of the MOSHIP and have space for 104 personnel.

(Source: www.hurriyetdailynews.com )