IDEX 2021: First UAE made fast patrol boats on show

Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Ship Building showcases indigenously designed vessels.

By Ashwani Kumar

Published: Tue 23 Feb 2021, 4:43 PM

Last updated: Tue 23 Feb 2021, 5:17 PM

Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) unveiled the first UAE designed and built fast patrol boats at the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX) 2021.

The Mussafah-based company – part of the platforms and systems cluster at EDGE Group – specialises in building, maintenance, repair, refitting and conversion of naval and commercial vessels.

The ADSB’s 12-metre (m) Majed 01 and 16-m Mesbar 01 fast patrol boats – both on display at the ongoing International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) exhibition – were designed by Emirati designers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We've built over 100 boats and vessels of up to 73 metres before, but this is the first to be designed and built by us. We inaugurated our design office at the beginning of this year. This is the first one to be launched,” Faris Al Maqtari, director, business development, ADSB, told Khaleej Times.

“Majed 01 is the first boat to be designed in-house by Emirati designers. It was built amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The high-speed of Majed 01 is 65 knots. We’re demonstrating the 16-metre onshore patrolling vessel with a high-speed of 50 knots kilomtres per hour,” Al Maqtari said about the live demonstrations held at the ADNEC Marina waters.

The 12m Majed 01 can be custom-built from 11m to 13m in length. With a payload of up to 2 tonnes, it can carry a remote weapon station or missile systems.

The 16m Mesbar 01 is modular in design to accommodate either a short cabin with space for surface-to-surface missile systems or a longer one for troop transport. It can be customised as per preference with guns ranging from manually operated 12.7 millimetres (mm) to a 30mm cannon mounted onto a remote weapon station. The 16m boat was built to meet requirements for the Coast Guard Forces.

David Massey, chief executive officer (CEO), ADSB, said with the latest products the company has expanded its capabilities to go beyond shipbuilding and include end-to-end services.

“We’re delighted to launch our new 16m and 12m high-speed boats – fully made in the UAE from conception to production,” Massey said in a statement.

ADSB operates three naval programmes: corvettes, offshore patrol vessels and fast patrol boats.

“Having worked in collaboration with Coast Guard Forces to meet their requirements for the 16m boat, we’ve utmost confidence that it meets the highest standards of safety and performance for our trusted partners,” he added.

The modular design allows for speedy delivery within weeks, instead of months.

The IDEX 2021 NAVDEX 2021 exhibitions commenced in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, February 21, and will continue until Thursday, February 25.