ADSB signs contracts with UAE Armed Forces

Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has signed three new major contracts with the UAE Armed Forces worth Dh180 million ($49 million). These new contracts add to the growing backlog of naval work already underway at ADSB, as reported a few months ago. The shipbuilding and ship repair company won an order valued at approximately Dh 2 billion ($544 million) awarded in late 2003 for the construction of four Baynunah Naval Corvettes.

The first of these three new contracts involves the construction of four naval Fast Supply Vessels (FSV’s) in cooperation with the company’s Swedish design partners, SwedeShip Marine AB. These 26-metre FSV’s will be quite similar to the twelve Ghannatha Fast Troop Transport vessels already being built for the UAE Navy by ADSB. Like Ghannatha, the new high-speed vessels will be built in aluminum and will have a water jet propulsion system. Along with their primary role as a supply vessel including supply of cargo, fuel, water and electrical power, the FSV’s can be reconfigured to perform a variety of other troop support missions including rapid deployment by sea of facilities for medical care, workshops and food service.

The company’s second new contract involves the complex, mid-life refit of two 44-meter Patrol Vessels for the UAE Navy. These vessels were originally built in Germany during the 1980’s and are similar to the six TNC-45 naval vessels already refit by ADSB.

“Our work scope for the 44-metre boats includes the repair or replacement of all major mechanical and electrical systems, the repair of the entire hull and superstructure, as well as the design and installation of several new state-of-the-art ship systems”, said Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Holliday.

The third contract is for the construction of a 42-metre Naval Landing Craft, similar in design to one that was awarded to ADSB last year and is currently undergoing final delivery trials. Both these vessels were designed by one of the company’s design partners in Singapore and provide a unique set of capabilities that are specially tailored to the customer’s mission requirements. This will be the fifth military landing craft built to date by ADSB and continues the development of this important product line within the company.

Other regional customers have expressed an interest in this product and ADSB is already in detailed discussions with another regional navy regarding landing craft construction.