Pakistan Navy New Fleet Tanker Launched by Karachi Shipyard & Turkey's STM
A new Fleet Tanker for the Pakistan Navy (PN) was launched today by Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited (KS&EW) in Karachi. Construction of the vessel was started on 27 November 2013 with steel cutting and subsequently keel laying was performed on 7 March 2014. The design of the Fleet Tanker is from Turkey's STM, while the tanker itself was built in Pakistan.
During the official launching ceremony, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said, “The project will further strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey.” He further added that the tanker was a gift to Pakistan on its 70th Independence Day.
The vessel will provide not only logistic support to PN units at high seas but can also undertake combat support operations through embarked helicopters. The fleet tanker will comply with IMO and MARPOL regulations. For this, the ship is of double hull configuration. It is propelled by two diesel driven engines with variable pitch propellers and can achieve a top speed of 20 knots at full load. The vessel is equipped with 4 x DGs for electrical power generation. With overall length of 158.4 m and maximum width of 22.0 m, the ship has scantling displacement of over 17000 tons.
Contract for indigenous construction of a Fleet Tanker for Pakistan Navy was signed on 22 Jan 2013 between Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP), Pakistan and M/s STM of Turkey. As per the said contract, design of the ship along with Kit of Material (KoM) will be provided by M/s STM, whereas complete construction, outfitting, and trials will be undertaken by KS&EW. PN Fleet Tanker is the largest ship to be built in country to date.
A video of the launch can be seen on
