First Royal Moroccan Navy Multi Mission Frigate
On 12 July, the green light was given to launch the first Multi-Mission Frigate under construction for the Royal Moroccan Navy. The 105m ship has been constructed entirely on land at the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) yard at Vlissingen East, the Netherlands. Following its ‘direct launch’ , the vessel was towed to DSNS’s Vlissingen-City yard for fimal outfitting. Image courtesy Jorrit Lousberg.
The direct launch method involved Mammoet moving the 2000t vessel initially from the hall towards the water. It was then placed on a pontoon and taken to deeper water where the pontoon was allowed to sink so that the frigate could be allowed to float unaided. The frigate was then towed by tug boats to Vlissingen-City where it will be completed over the coming year.
DSNS has made various investments over the course of the past two years in order to facilitate this unique construction method at the shipyard in Vlissingen-East. The site has undergone a complete metamorphosis whereby the existing production hall was extended by 120 m and a RoRo ‘path’ was created, upon which the ships ‘drive’ from the hall to the pontoon.
The second and third frigate for the Royal Moroccan Navy, both 98 m in length, are planned to be launched into the water in exactly the same manner next year.