Abu Dhabi, June 21: Abu Dhabi Ship Building today handed over a newly constructed multi-mission landing craft to the UAE Special Operations Command.

The 42m Special Forces Landing Craft, named Umm Al Narr, is the second of its type to be built by ADSB. The earlier one, L41, is in service with the UAE Navy.

The vessels are constructed to the high naval standards associated with production at ADSB and have proven in service operational sea time.

The vessels have a dead weight capacity of 380 tonnes, a speed of 10 knots and accommodation for 40 troops. The design of the vessel and the cargo deck layout makes them ideally suitable for the deployment of vehicles, troops, men, fuel and water.

The bow ramp, constructed for use during beach landings, allows the fast disembarkation of vehicles and men. Full air-conditioned accommodation is provided for the troops and ships complement of 11 officers and men.

Major General (retired) Suhail Shaheen Al Marar, the ADSB Vice Chairman, said: "This is the first vessel that ADSB has delivered to the UAE Special Forces and we are proud to have been given the opportunity to build this modern Multi-Mission Landing Craft"

"This delivery follows our recent export order of a 64metre Landing Craft to the Royal Navy of Oman and further endorses Abu Dhabi Ship Building's position as the leading builder of Naval and Military vessels for the GCC states"

ADSB is currently involved in building six advanced Corvettes for the UAE Navy, the largest naval shipbuilding programme ever undertaken in the Middle East.

Further technical details
Construction: Marine Grade Steel.
LOA: 44.36m
Beam OA: 10.00m
Draft: 2.20m approx. (Full Load)
Compliment: 3 x Officers & 8 x Crew / 40 Embarked Troops (optional)
Speed: 10 Knots. (Tropical Operation)
Range:1000 N.Miles at 8.5 knots
Main Machinery: Twin Caterpillar, CAT 3406 TA, / Rated 365 HP at 1800 RPM each.
Deck Cranes: 2 x SWL 600Kg at 4.0m Hydraulic Cranes. / 1 x SWL 13.00 Tonnes at 5.0m Hydraulic Crane.
Full Air-Conditioning: Split-Unit System.
Life saving Equipment: Full LSA equipment fitted including 4 liferafts

-Ends-

About Abu Dhabi Ship Building
ADSB is a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC), listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADSM). The company was established in 1996 by the UAE Offsets Group (UOG) and has built a strong reputation for high quality construction and repair of both military and commercial vessels.  ADSB is owned 10% by the Abu Dhabi government, 40% by Mubadala Development Company, and 50% by more than 8,000 UAE National shareholders.

For further information:
Peter Dunlop (ADSB)          
+971 50 667 6445

Abu Dhabi Ship Building:    
+971 2 502 8000

© Press Release 2006