Nakilat (as Agents for) Nakilat – Damen Shipyards Qatar Signs MoU with the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces for the Construction and Delivery of Six (6) Naval Patrol Boats

Doha, Qatar, 30 March 2010

Doha, Qatar, 30 March 2010 – Nakilat (as Agents for) Nakilat – Damen Shipyards Qatar (N-DSQ) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) for the construction and delivery of six (6) Naval Patrol Boats at Nakilat’s world-class shipbuilding facilities in the Port of Ras Laffan, Qatar.

The military vessels will be used by the QENF to support its existing operations in the monitoring and surveillance of Qatar’s Economic Exclusive Zone, for coastal and offshore patrolling, search and seizure operations, and for anti piracy/hijacking operations.

The Qatar Emiri Naval Force’s Staff Brigadier (Sea) Mohammed Bin Nasser Al-Mohannadi said, “This MoU with Nakilat-Damen Shipyards Qatar is a significant step forward in the ongoing development of the Emiri Naval Forces, and provides the equipment consistent with the duties and responsibilities of the QENF to protect Qatar’s national interests.”

Nakilat’s Managing Director, Muhammad Ghannam, said, “The N-DSQ MoU agreement with the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces for the supply of patrol vessels is a significant event for N-DSQ. It also affirms the realization of H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s vision for a world-class shipyard to serve the country’s continuous requirements for costal patrol and marine defence. The signing of this MoU demonstrates the strategic value of a premier shipyard facility in Qatar to meet the needs of the Ministry of Defense and the Emiri Naval Forces.”