Damen Schelde launches second Multi Mission Frigate for the Royal Moroccan Navy

At Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in Vlissingen, on February 2, the second Multi-Mission Frigate under construction for the Royal Moroccan Navy, was rolled out of the assembly hall. 

The 98 metre long ship has been constructed entirely on land at the DSNS yard at Vlissingen-East and is now ready, on schedule, to be completed at the Vlissingen-City shipyard. 

Heavy Lifting and Transport company Mammoet Europe B.V., moved the 1700 ton vessel from the assembly hall to the pontoon after which the ship was launched. 

The frigate was then be towed by tug boats to Vlissingen-City where it will be completed. 

At this moment three Moroccan frigates are under construction at the DSNS yard in Vlissingen. 

The first frigate of 105 metre was successfully launched in July 2010. The third frigate for the Royal Moroccan Navy, also 98 metres long, is planned to be launched at the end of this year. 

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Taiwan adds frigates to deter China fishing boats

Taiwan's coastguard on Wednesday inaugurated two frigates to boost the island's capabilities as part of efforts to deter illegal fishing boats, mainly from China, officials said.

The "Tainan", a 2,000-tonne frigate named after a city in southern Taiwan, was put into service after a ceremony presided over by President Ma Ying-jeou in Kaohsiung, a port in the south.

The frigate, capable of cruising up to 7,500 miles, will be used to patrol waters around the island and in the disputed South China Sea, coastguards said.

"Over the past two years, the government's efforts have helped lead to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," Ma said according to a statement from the coastguard.

"(But) the maintenance of security on waters around Taiwan has emerged as one of the most important tasks."

Ties with China have improved markedly since Ma took office in 2008, with the two sides resuming routine high-level direct talks and adopting various measures to boost trade and tourism.

Despite the warming ties, Taiwan's coastguard frequently reports intrusions by Chinese fishing boats into the island's territorial waters.

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DCNS gets major French Navy contract for La Fayette-class frigates

TOULON, FRANCE (BNS): European shipbuilder DCNS has received a major contract from the French Navy to provide operational maintenance services for its La Fayette-class multi-mission stealth frigates.

The contract, worth over 60 million euro (USD 80 million), makes way for providing maintenance support to five La Fayette-class frigates – Aconite, Courbet, Guépratte, La Fayette and Surcouf – at DCNS's Toulon facility for five years from 2011 to 2015.

The implementation of the contract will begin with the technical overhaul of Surcouf in spring 2011, DCNS said.

The contract stipulates for DCNS to establish a construction site and an industrial organisation fully dedicated for the maintenance programme. 

Thus, around a steering team gathered and presented on the site in question, human resources (engineers, buyers, processors, mechanics, electricians, boilermakers, etc.) will be assigned to the programme for the duration of the contract, the naval defence company said.

The La Fayette-class warships, with their unique stealth design, high endurance and survivability prowess, have been designed to counter modern-day threats in hostile environments. The warships are capable of carrying heavy shipboard helicopters with powerful combat systems that could include anti-ship AM39 Exocet or Aster 15/30 missiles.

The warships have been operational in the French Navy for over a decade with the commissioning of the lead ship, La Fayette, in 1996 and the last ship, Guepratte, in 2001.

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