KARACHI: The launching ceremony of a 600-tonnes maritime patrol vessel (MPV) being built for Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) was held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) here on Tuesday.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi graced the occasion as chief guest, a statement of ISPR- Navy said.
“The ship is fully equipped to enforce maritime security [and] search and rescue missions in the maritime exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Pakistan,” it said.
The navy’s media wing informed that the vessel was built with the technical collaboration of China Shipbuilding and Trading Company (CSTC).
The vessel is “a state of the art and multi-mission vessel with a steel hull and aluminum super structure,” read a statement issued by the navy’s media wing, adding that “the length of the vessel is 68.5 metres, breadth is 8.7 metres and it can achieve a top speed of 27 knots”.
Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Zafar said the construction of the vessel was “yet another landmark project that speaks volumes of the evergreen friendship between China and Pakistan.”
While highlighting the significance of CPEC, the admiral said that CPEC will transform Pakistan into a regional economic hub. “If we capitalise on just 10 per cent of China’s external trade, it will be about five times the current volume of trade that we are carrying through our port,” he added.
He further said that maritime sector alone has the potential to double or even triple Pakistan’s GDP. He urged different strata of society to render their support in the development of the shipbuilding and maritime sector.
Earlier, KSEW Managing Director Syed Hasan Nasir Shah said that the MPV is one of the six vessels to be constructed as a part of a contract between the Ministry of Defence Production and CSTC.
“These MPVs will act as a force multiplier for PMSA in safeguarding maritime frontiers of Pakistan together with Pakistan Navy,” he added.
He also apprised about other ongoing projects at KS&EW.
The launching ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials from the government of Pakistan, Pakistan Navy, China Shipbuilding & Trading Company and KS&EW.