First of two Abu Dhabi class 88-metre corvettes
Posted on 03/07/2012 4:17:06 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Abu Dhabi plans to build stealth ships
Haseeb Haider
7 March 2012
ABU DHABI - A new joint venture shipyard in Abu Dhabi will construct stealth vessels and in the future plans to build upgraded marine engines in collaboration with Italy’s Fincantieri, which builds naval and merchant ships.
Etihad Ship Building (ESB), in a joint venture deal with Abu Dhabi’s Al Fattan Ship Industries, weapons suppliers Melara Middle East of Dubai and Italy’s Fincantieri, will construct, refit and carry out maintenance of stealth vessels for the UAE Navy and regional navies.
Initially, the joint venture shipyard will install the Rolled Airframe Missile, or RAM, defence systems on one naval vessel, which is currently under construction in Italy by Fincantieri — world’s leading ship builder.
Two more ships, which are being built by Italian ship builder, will be delivered in the next two years. Fincantieri, which has joint ventures with five nations, won a contract from the UAE Navy to build an 88-metre long 1,650 tonnes corvette for anti-submarine and anti aircraft operations.
The Italian firm won an order for the construction of 55-metre long two stealth vessels, Falaj-2 with delivery this year. This contract provides an option for the UAE Navy for the construction of two more units.
“The two vessels are under construction in Italy, will be delivered with the end of this and early 2013,” said Achille Fulfaro, the general manager of Etihad Ship Building, at a presentation on Tuesday.
Fulfaro said, the shipyard, which is located in Taweelah, is set to become the main logistical hub in the area for the Italian ship builder.
Ahmed Ali Abdulwahab Al Marzouqi, general manager of Al Fattan Ship Industry, said the new company is anticipating a contract by the end of the year to build four more vessels for the UAE Navy at the shipyard.
Asked about any order he is expecting outside the UAE, Al Marzouqi said, “talks are underway for the construction of total 10 vessels,” for two regional countries, which he did not name.
Currently, Al Fattan Ship Building is doing refitting and maintenance of four Class patrol boats for the Iraqi Navy, which was built by Fincantieri. Guiseppe Bono Fincantieri, chief executive officer said his company, which is investing heavily in this yard in terms of transfer of technology and know-how, and wants to reach out to customers in the region.
On future plans, Al Marzouqi said the joint venture ship builder will also develop a range of engines for installing on naval vessels. “We would be lucky if we are able to develop the engine in the next five to six years,” he told Khaleej Times.
Made in Abu Dhabi marine engines would further Abu Dhabi’s vision to develop a knowledge-base economy by 2030, he said.
haseeb@khaleejtimes.com
First of two Abu Dhabi class 88-metre corvettes
What will be the composition of their workforce? Skilled industrial labor in the Arab world is generally foreign.
The labour force will almost entirely be from the subcontinent or Philippines with senior positions likely to be from the West or South Korea. A few locals will be there for occassional photo sessions.
One can guess that the facility will be an annex to the Abu Dhabi trade zone. Like it’s vastly larger neighbor in Dubai,the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone, the world’s businesses are flocking there to do business. The trade zones and the accumulated financial companies are the gateway east.
The Italians are escaping the European Stagnation by fleeing to a place where business is not only appreciated but encouraged. The result will be a star continuing to rise while the dessicated clinker of Europe fades.
The GCC and the thriving business aggregation there is the real reason for defeating Iran.
They seem to be “westernized.” How come the terrorists don’t attack them?
By coincidence: industrial labor in the United States is generally in the Peoples Republic of China...
-——How come the terrorists don’t attack them?-——
If you recall,they attempted an uprising and attack in Bahrain but were repelled.
For me. it is difficult to separate completely the genuine religious from the Iranian influenced agitators. It can be argued that the Iranians used religious agitators to attack the Americans in Al Khobar and more recently attempted an assassination of the Saudi Ambassador. The mullahs covet the wealth of the GCC and the Holy shrines at Mecca.
Also..... recall if you will the oft repeated words of Prince Bandar. “We want to modernize but not to Westernize” It would appear they are having some success in that extremely difficult task
Consumer manufacturing yes, but not as much on the industrial labor.
Where do you suppose “our” industry is anymore?
Perot was right.
Westernizing my rear. Go over there and feel up some woman in public. Make sure you use the hand you do not like.
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