Seapower a focus for IDEX 2007

In the light of increasing international tensions in the Arabian Gulf, every Gulf nation is now in the process of building up its coast guard and naval defence forces. Accordingly, IDEX 2007 is placing increased importance on the naval aspect of the upcoming defence exhibition, which is taking place February 18-22, 2007 in Abu Dhabi.

'Our focus at Euronaval will be to attract as many international warships as possible to our Port Zayed site,' said Mohamad Nabhani, Program Manager of IDEX 2007. 'We anticipate more than 15 visiting ships, from submarines to many classes of surface vessels to attend IDEX. The armaments and weapons integration systems on these warships comprise some of the latest technologies and are of immense interest to countries looking to enhance naval capabilities.'

Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) is also at Euronaval this week, but it is at IDEX that the company expects to draw plenty of attention. The Baynunah corvette program marks the construction of the largest warship ever to be built in the Arabian Gulf. With technology and design from its partner Constructions Mechaniques de Normandie (CMN) of France, ADSB is currently attaching the sleek bow section to the keel blocks of the second Baynunah corvette at its facility in Mussafah.

The series of six 71-metre ships for the UAE Navy are unique in that they will be the largest steel hulled naval vessels ever built with a water jet main propulsion system. The three and one half year construction and trial phase of the Baynunah ships means that the multi-mission corvettes will not be dockside at Port Zayed in time for IDEX 2007.

'We have an extensive program of shipyard tours and demonstrations already lined up for the many national delegations that are anxious to see the Baynunah vessels under construction,' said William Stewart, ADSB Vice President of Marketing. 'These vessels incorporate the latest weapons and sensor technologies. Their shallow draft and maneuverability gives them an operational advantage in Gulf waters.'

Stewart also noted that IDEX 2007 presents an excellent venue to market ADSB's line of several different classes of vessels to international customers. The yard's new composite workshop is one of the largest and most advanced in the world. With the recent setup of Abu Dhabi Systems Integration (ADSI), a joint venture with Selex Sistemi Integrati S.p.A of Italy, Abu Dhabi now provides world-class combat systems integration capabilities within the region.