Ceremony to lay the keel of two 76-meter offshore Patrol vessels for the Nigerian Navy

On Friday, September 16, 2022, the keel laying ceremony of two (2) 76-meter Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Nigerian Navy was held at Dearsan Shipyard, located in Tuzla, İstanbul, Turkey.

The ceremony was held under the auspices of the H.E. Nigerian Minister of Defense, Mr. Bashir Salihi Magashi in the presence of the Dearsan Chairman of the Board Mr. Aziz Yıldırım, the Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, the H.E. Deputy Minister of National Defense of Turkey, Mr. Muhsin Dere, the H.E. Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey, Mr. İsmail Abba Yusuf, the Nigerian Naval Forces Commander, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu GAMBO and many other distinguished members of the Turkish and Nigerian navies.

After the speeches of the parties, the welding ceremony, the presentation of commemorative gifts and the photo session, the delegation examined the first blocks of the ships at the shipyard.

The design, construction and integration processes of these two patrol boats, which should be completed within 37 months, were carried out by the Dearsan Shipyard.

As a reminder, the contract for the purchase of two brand new offshore patrol vessels was signed between the Nigerian Navy and the Turkish company, Messrs Dearsan Shipyard Limited, on November 03, 2021. Admiral Gambo said at the ceremony that the signing of the purchase contract was another important step taken by the Nigerian Navy in its effort to renew its fleet towards the realization of its strategic plan 2021-2030.

By Pascaline Odoubourou