This is Corvette?
CPEC security: Navy mulls acquiring high speed missile boats for Gwadar Port’s security
Following the significance of CPEC project, the Pakistan Navy (PN) has initiated deliberations with China and Turkey to acquire a squadron of high speed missile boats to secure Gwadar port.
Talking to Business Recorder, an official, stood at Pakistan Navy’s stall at IDEAS-2016, said that the responsibilities of the PN had been increased after the announcement of CPEC project.
“Although two PN ships have presently been deployed at Gwadar, we have planned to deploy a special squadron of high speed missile boats to secure the Pakistan’s deepest port.
For the purpose, the deliberations have been initiated with China and Turkey. Replying to a question, the official said they were also working to get a share from the funds allocated for the security of the CPEC project to acquire a squadron of high speed missile boats.
He said that the PN had trained the officers from Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Sudan and Bangladesh and Ukraine and other central Asian countries had shown interest in this regard during the exhibition.
Meanwhile, an official, presented at the stall of Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited (KS&EWL), said that the government was also planning to build shipyards at Gwadar and Port Qasim to meet the growing needs following the CPEC project.
He said that they were also manufacturing the Fleet Tanker (17000 ton) for the PN in collaboration with M/s STM of Turkey and added that the PN would replace its one of two Fleet Tankers acquired from Netherlands after this new one, which was expected to be inducted by the mid of next year.
He said that this Fleet Tanker would have a capacity to transport 8000 ton of fuel, 1000 ton of fresh water and other stuff.
The design of this ship, which is drafted by Turkey, is based on contemporary trends and is according to Bureau Veritas Rules for the Classification of Naval Ships and its construction by Pakistan’s skilled manpower at KS&EWL, manifested an excellent combination to achieve indigenization through joint ventures with brotherly countries.
This initiative will certainly open more opportunities for further co-operation between Pakistan and Turkey in the field of indigenous warship construction and other defence sector products, he maintained.
CPEC Security: China, Pakistan to deploy warships to safeguard Gwadar port
China will deploy its naval vessels in coordination with the Pakistan Navy to safeguard the Gwadar port in Balochistan and trade under a bilateral trade corridor, according to a media report on Friday.
Besides the joint deployment of warships, Pakistan is considering the purchase of super-fast vessels from China and Turkey for a special squadron to be positioned at Gwadar to secure the deep sea port, an unnamed Pakistan Navy official was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.
“A squadron may have four to six warships,” the official said on the sidelines of the IDEAS 2016 defence exhibition in Karachi.
The super-fast vessels would be “bought soon” in view of their immediate need in the fleet and two warships had already been deployed at Gwadar, the official said.
The role of Pakistan’s maritime forces had increased since the country made Gwadar operational and expedited up economic activities under the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the official said.
India has for long expressed concerns about the Chinese Navy’s involvement in the Gwadar port, which is at the heart of the CPEC.
The Tribune quoted another unnamed naval official as saying that Pakistan has kicked off the process of establishing the region’s largest shipyard at Gwadar. A similar ship-building project is being considered for Port Qasim in Karachi.
The two advanced shipyards will design and develop ships and other security equipment for the Pakistan Navy.
“The existing shipyard, the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, lacks capacity to meet new requirements of the force. Its (PNSC) performance, however, would improve in competition with the two under consideration,” he said.
The PNSC will hand over a large fleet tanker being built in collaboration with Turkey to the Pakistan Navy.
Tags Balochistan Pakistan port China Pakistan Navy Gwadar Port
