Abu Dhabi Ship Building marks UAE National Day with Baynunah keel laying

In a ceremony scheduled to coincide with UAE National Day, the keel block was laid for the fourth vessel in the six-ship Baynunah programme.

The first ship of the Baynunah class is in the outfitting phase at ADSB's subcontractor's shipyard Construction Mecaniques de Normandie (CMN) in Cherbourg, France.

The second and third ships are under construction at ADSB's Mussafah shipyard facility in Abu Dhabi. The hull and deck fabrication has been completed on ship two and outfitting is now beginning. Hull and deck fabrication is also well along on ship three.

The complex equipment and systems that will be installed on the six vessels are being manufactured at subcontractor facilities around the world.

William Saltzer, ADSB's CEO, said: 'With the laying of the fourth keel for the Baynunah programme, right along side ships two and three, the tremendous capabilities that have been developed here at Abu Dhabi Ship Building are very visible to all.

'These 72 metre corvettes make an imposing picture in the shipyard and they clearly illustrate ADSB's unique position as the only dedicated Naval shipbuilder in the region.'

The keel laying consists of placing the first major construction block in position in the ship assembly hall. This 66 tonne block contains the machinery and engineering spaces for many of the main mechanical systems.

Rear Admiral Ahmed Al Sabab Al Tenaiji, Commander of the UAE Naval Forces, who presided over the keel laying ceremony said: 'I am delighted to see the progress that is being made on the Baynunah programme and it has been an honour to lay this keel so close to our National Day celebration.'