Turkey to get Damen SAR vessels
Dutch shipbuilder Damen has signed a contract with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to build six search and rescue (SAR) vessels, it announced on 6 November.
The boats, set to be built at Damen Shipyards Antalya, will be operated by the Turkish Coast Guard and funded by the European Union. To be delivered in 2017, they will support migrant and refugee rescue operations.
The vessels to be built are the Damen SAR 1906, an all-weather, self-righting SAR vessel with a composite wheelhouse and aluminium hull. Its hull design is based on the company's axe bow technology, adapted for rescue-specific operations.
The boats will be deployed along the Turkish coastline. The 19-metre SAR 1906 can carry up to 120 survivors. Damen Shipyards Antalya plans to deliver the first vessel in May 2017 and the second in June, and have all six commissioned by the end of the year.
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