Turkey: Government in Talks Over Naval Ship Exports

Undersecretariat for Defense Industries, reportedly having awarded over 60 military boat and naval vessel project to local shipyards, now negotiates over several other new projects with the yards.However these new projects are intended for sale as the undersecretariat revealed talks with prospective ..clients”.

Turkish yards, especially the leading septet that designed and built the first project now contemplates becoming exporters of such naval projects. This comes as no surprise as a handful of shipyard have been known to build military or defense related boats and export across the world for some time now.

Yards now scale up their targets in order to sell naval ships in the same markets. According to Mr. Serdar Demirel, Head of Naval Projects
Department under the Undersecratariat for Defense Industries, these are not unfounded ambitions. “Turkish shipyards have learnt designing and building navy ships very well and now conditions are ripe to start selling these projects” he says.

An article published on 14 February 2011 issue of Wall Street Journal verifies and supports Mr. Demirel’s views, as the paper informs that Turkey willlend UKa hand during production of Frigate 26 class naval ship, which will be commissioned by the Royal Navy during 2020. However this does not seem to fully satisfy private yard in Turkey, who managed to increase domestic contribution levels to 70 percent.

Only 7 shipyards out of 69 active ones have been approved to build naval ships. Despite undersecretariat’s plans to further reduce the number of eligible yard to 5, many private yards undergo improvements in order to draw military projects. Some even go as far will start making money if they can proceed to the final stage of military projects. Dirst two stages were design and successful application which have been accomplished.

We have concentrated efforts in marketing these projects abroad” he said also mentioning about the possibility of domestic main engine building in book further projects including “Landing Platform Dock-LPD”, “Air Cushioned Landing Craft”, “Seismic Research Vessel“, “Fleet Replenishment Vessel” and “Training Sailship“. Among them the LPD’sseem to be on the highlights as proposals for the first ship have been invited. It is understood that after the proposal improvements in order to draw military projects. Some even go as far as starting cooperation talks with large European institutions involving naval ship building.

Mr. Demirel, in a speech during SMMIstanbul Fair held during January pointed out to discipline and specialised investment necessities of naval shipbuilding and argued that the yard involved in such projects do not generally profit.

“The shipyards mentioning about the possibility of domestic main engine building in cooperation with MTUand some other engine makers.”

Naval tally exceeds 2 billion US dollars

Meanwhile it is estimated that total value of military orders placed amounts over 2 billion US dollars. 60 separate projects have mostly taken off while the undersecretariat plans to for the first ship have been invited. It is understood that after the proposal submission period ending on 16 May 2011, qualified shipyards will be awarded 36 new projects including the first LPD.Further 27 Amphibious AssaultVehicle (MV), 4 Mechanical Landing Craft (LCM), 2 Personnel & Vehicle Landing Craft (LCVP),one Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) and one commander vehicle projects will be commenced.
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Source: Turkish Marine Post, March-April 2011-05-02, May 2, 2011;