Naval Staff (Admin) Deputy Chief Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed has said that self reliance has been at the fore front of Navy Head Quarter’s (NHQ) policies and in this context, Pakistan Navy has always extended full support to Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) to make rapid progress towards indigenisation.
He was the chief guest at handing over ceremony of 32 tonnes Bollard Pull (BP) tug being built for Pakistan Navy by KS&EW on Monday.
He appreciated the recent performance of KS&EW and said that 04 vessels including F22P Frigate has been delivered during the last year meeting the contractual time line and quality standards.
He further said this is a testimony to the fact that KS&EW is successful in its mission and contributing to national economy and defence of the country.
The tug has 34 meter over all length with displacement of 481 tonnes. It has max speed of 12 knots and BP of 32 tonnes. It is fitted with a very robust foundering arrangement for al-round tugging operation for almost all sizes of ships and crafts.
Earlier, KS&EW Managing Director (MD) R/Adm Syed Hasan Nasir Shah SI(M) in his welcome address thanked MoDP and especially Pakistan Navy for their continued patronage.
He said that KS&EW has already constructed various tugs ranging from 10 to 40 tonnes BP; but construction of this tug is distinct due to very robust design and state of the art equipment and machinery to facilitate multi-purpose operations. He mentioned that all contractual milestones for this tug were completed well advance of schedule time and the tug is being handed over to Pakistan Navy within the contractual time line.
He gave a brief account of the progress of Karachi Shipyard and highlighted the projects being undertaken which includes 1,700 tonnes fleet tanker, fast attack missile craft, one 12 tonnes bollard pull pusher tug and 22 bridge erection boats for Pakistan Army.
He also said that KS&EW has re-launched itself in heavy engineering industry where KS&EW is focussing on sugar, oil, gas and earth moving equipment. He highlighted that ship repairs division of KS&EW is also rendering valuable services of docking and repairs to PN, KPT, PQA and foreign vessels as well. The ceremony was attended by senior ranking officials of Pakistan
Navy, KS&EW, government and South Korean officials.
