RMK Marine to build coastguard vessels

RMK Marine shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey, signed a $325 million contract to build four military search and rescue vessels for the Turkish Coast Guard. The shipyard will become Ko? Holding’s third arm in its defence business, after armoured vehicle maker Otokar and software and systems group Ko? Sistem.

“This is the first time a private Turkish shipyard has been tasked to build boats of this size,” said Kudret Onen, a senior executive at Ko? Holding, RMK Marine’s parent company and Turkey’s top industrial conglomerate. RMK Marine won the tender for the contract last summer, and the contract was signed on 16 January at a ceremony attended by Defence Minister Vecdi Gönül and Undersecretary for Defence Industries Murad Bayar.

RMK will build the Sirio class boats under license from Italy’s Fincantieri. Under the six-year program, the first unit will be delivered in 2010 and the remaining three by the end of 2011. Engines will be supplied by MTU. The military-owned electronics concern Aselsan has been selected as the prime local contractor and will design and supply the command and control, communications and warfare systems. The planned vessels will be 90 metres long and 12 metres wide with a maximum speed of 22 knots.

RMK Marine’s annual turnover in commercial newbuildings runs at $50 million.