BMT, Ares team for Qatar Coast Guard order
BMT Nigel Gee (BMT) has teamed with Ares Shipyard (Ares) to deliver 17 patrol boats for the Qatar Coast Guard under a new partnership agreement announced on 23 July. The project will last a period of 5 years, with the first vessel expected to begin sea trials in early 2016.
Ares announced its contract with the Qatar Coast Guard in March. In joining the team, BMT will be responsible for the naval architecture, including hull development and class level design and engineering work on all three sizes of vessel.
The patrol boats will be built from advanced composites in three sizes. Five will be 23m vessels capable of speed in excess of 37 knots; ten will be 33m vessels capable of achieving 30 knots; and two will be 46m also capable of 30 knots.
The vessels have been designed by the team to meet the Qatar Coast Guard’s performance requirements.
Kerim Kalafatoglu, managing director, Ares Shipyard, said: ‘Developing a vessel that far exceeds the customer’s expectations in both looks and, performance, could only be made possible through the effective partnership between BMT and Ares. A challenging project such as this, delivery 17 vessels in total, means that having a reliable and experienced partner such at BMT Nigel Gee is all the more important.’
John Bonafoux, managing director, BMT Nigel Gee, added: ‘We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Ares and for the opportunity to extend and reinforce our expertise in high speed patrol boats. We have worked with Ares on a wide variety of projects and given the demand in the market for such specialist types of vessels, we look forward to developing this relationship further.’
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