Keel Laying of Pakistan Navy’s Second OPV at DAMEN’s Romanian Shipyard

Islamabad: Keel Laying ceremony of second Off-shore Patrol Vessel (OPV II) being constructed for Pakistan Navy was held at DAMEN Shipyard Galati, Romania, witnessed by Ambassador of Pakistan to Romania Dr Zafar Iqbal.

The ceremony was also attended by senior representatives of Minister for Defence Production and Pakistan Navy besides officials of DAMEN.

Owning to the satisfactory performance of first batch of OPVs – PNS Yarmook & PNS Tabuk in Pakistan Navy’s service; the construction of second batch of OPVs was in progress at DAMEN Shipyard Romania. The ship will be multi-purpose and highly adaptive platform, equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors to fight all domains of maritime warfare.

PNS Yarmook & PNS Tabuk  entered the Pakistan Naby fleet in 2020.  

While addressing the ceremony, Dr Zafar Iqbal underscored the importance of OPVs by emphasising that these platforms will act as force multipliers in enhancing PN capability of safeguarding maritime frontiers and will offer flexibility in conduct of Pakistan Navy’s initiative of independent Regional Maritime Security Patrols in the Indian Ocean Region.

He added that Pakistan Navy has been successfully playing its role in providing secure sea environment not only to Pakistan but also to the world seafarers. He lauded the professional shipbuilding competence of M/s DAMEN and appreciated the timely delivery of ships to Pakistan Navy.

Earlier, DAMEN’s Romanian shipyard bore witness to the steel cutting ceremony of Pakistan Navy’s first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV-II) in July 2022.

The two OPV-IIs are planned for delivery in February and August 2024.–shp/adj/aaa (Image: Pakistan Navy)