RAWALPINDI: The launching ceremony of the state-of-the-art 4th Offshore Patrol Vessel, PNS YAMAMA (Design), being built for the Pakistan Navy, took place at DAMEN Shipyard Galati in Romania.
Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, said Pakistan Army media affairs wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering, Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami emphasized the significance of maritime security amidst both conventional and non-conventional threats in the Indian Ocean Region, particularly to energy and trade routes.
He praised the Pakistan Navy’s significant role in maintaining a safe and secure maritime environment for trade. The Admiral expressed confidence that the introduction of these versatile platforms, armed with cutting-edge weaponry and sensors, would enhance the combat capabilities of the PN Fleet, bolstering maritime security in the Arabian Sea and the broader Indian Ocean Region.
Earlier, during his welcome speech, the Chief Operations Officer of DAMEN Group Netherlands highlighted the longstanding partnership between DAMEN Shipyard and the Pakistan Navy since 1986.
He assured continued delivery of cost-effective, technologically advanced, and potent vessels to meet the operational needs of the PN.
The launching ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials from the Romanian Government and Navy, Pakistan Navy, DAMEN, and notables from the Pakistani community in Romania.
