Singapore Technologies Marine (ST Marine) has christened the Royal Navy of Oman’s (RNO) first of four Al-Ofouq-class patrol vessels as Al Seeb, following its keel laying on 29 March 2013 and technical launch on 29 January.
ST Marine president NG Sing Chan said: "We will focus all our efforts in the next months to ensure the project meet[s] all the contracted milestones and that a fine and effective platform will emerge to be able to fulfil the objectives as set out by the Royal Navy of Oman."
In 2012, the Ministry of Defence of the Sultanate of Oman awarded a $699.4m contract to ST Marine for the construction of four patrol vessels. This also included options for associated logistic support.
Based on ST Marine’s fearless-class patrol vessels, which are used by the Republic of Singapore Navy, each 246ft-long Al-Ofouq-class vessel will provide a maximum cruise speed of more than 23mph, while offering a 1,000m range at 17mph.
ST Marine contracted Thales to integrate its Tacticos combat management system (CMS), the Variant surveillance radar and STIR 1.2 EO Mk2 radar E/O tracking system, as well as the ESM system.
With the delivery of the first vessel expected in the second quarter of 2015, the final vessel will be delivered to the RNO by the third quarter of 2016.
In May, the RNO took delivery of the last of three Khareef-class corvettes, Al Rasikh, from BAE Systems, as part of a £400m contract awarded in 2007.
