NEWS
Naval Shipbuilding and Alewijnse Marine Systems,’ manoeuvrability and stealth in addition to testing its
and is the largest order in Alewijnse’s history, bringing combat system (including sonars and torpedo launch
the company’s orderbook to €140 million. tubes) and safety and rescue systems.
The company’s scope of supply includes delivery Between now and late September, a DCNS team of
of all switchboards, lighting installations and 50 in Cherbourg will refi t KD Tunku Abdul Rahman
the entire electrical installation work, including and prepare it for fi nal acceptance trials, the last
steelwork on board the vessels. pre-delivery milestone.
Two of the vessels will be built at the Royal The Malaysian government signed a contract
Schelde Shipyard in Vlissingen in The Netherlands, with DCNS and Spanish naval shipbuilder Izar
with the other two built at the Damen Shipyard (now Navantia) in June 2002 for two Scorpene
in Galati, Romania. Detailed engineering and submarines and associated logistics and training.
execution of works will be carried out by Alewijnse KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is scheduled for
Retec Romania, with support from Alewijnse delivery in early 2009 and the second boat a few
Marine Systems in Nijmegen. months later.
The Scorpene was designed by DCNS and
Submarines developed jointly by DCNS and Navantia. Each boat
Nuclear sub to
is built partly in France and partly in Spain according
to the same industrial process.
protect oil fi elds
Industry
Brazil will use a planned nuclear-powered submarine
to protect its off shore oil fi elds, according to the
BVT Surface Fleet
country’s Defence Minister Nelson Jobim.
formed
‘We have to make it clear that defence is part of
the national agenda,’ he told the Brazilian Congress’ VT Group plc has signed a legally binding agreement
foreign relations and defence committee recently. with BAE Systems plc on the formation of a surface
Mr Jobim stressed that the Brazilian navy was shipbuilding and naval support joint venture company
looking to acquire 50 new ships in the future, to be called BVT Surface Fleet Limited (BVT). Th e
which, along with the nuclear-powered submarine, agreement also includes VT’s acquisition of BAE
would be used to protect the oil installations off his Systems’ 50 per cent shareholding in Flagship Training
country’s southeast coast. Limited (together with the formation of BVT).
BVT will combine VT’s and BAE Systems’
Submarines respective surface warship and through-life naval
Royal Malaysian
support businesses, including their respective 50
per cent stakes in Fleet Support Limited. BVT will
Navy sub trials
be owned 45 per cent by VT and 55 per cent by
BAE Systems. VT and BAE Systems will have equal
Following 90 days of trials from Lorient, KD Tunku board representation and voting rights in BVT.
Abdul Rahman, the fi rst DCNS-designed ‘Scorpene’ BVT’s dividend policy will be to distribute all of
type submarine for the Royal Malaysian Navy recently its earnings and VT will receive priority receipt of
returned to Cherbourg for a post-trials refi t. BVT’s dividends up to March 2010.
Shipbuilder’s trials were held in the waters of the Th e formation of BVT was the prelude to a full
Bay of Biscay. Some 420 hours of underwater trials manufacturing contract for the UK Royal Navy’s
demonstrated the boat’s speed, dive endurance, new aircraft carrier programme (CVF), which will
be signed by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and
BVT shortly. BVT will also sign a 15 year partnering
arrangement with the Ministry of Defence. This
arrangement will guarantee BVT’s leadership of
defi ned future programmes with respect to design,
build and through-life support. BVT will operate
facilities in Bristol, Glasgow and Portsmouth.
Contracts
QinetiQ passive
sonar contract
KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is scheduled for delivery in QinetiQ in the UK has been awarded a £3.8 million
early 2009 and the second boat a few months later. contract by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in Norway
10 Warship Technology July/August 2008
WTJul-Aug08_p6+7+8+10+11+12.indd Sec1:10 7/22/08 6:59:21 PM
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