A cooperation memorandum on implementing the national plan to upgrade the country’s vessel construction and repair capacity was signed between the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics and the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, for the construction of 44 vessels in 9 types with a budget of €140 million. Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the glorious victory of the Islamic Revolution, the signing ceremony was held this morning (Sunday) in the presence of Brigadier General Amir Hatami, Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, and Mohammad Eslami, Minister of Roads and Urban Development, at the premises of the Marine Industries Organization of the Ministry of Defense. At the ceremony, the Minister of Defense said: under this memorandum, and by drawing on the capacity of the marine industries, a great step is envisaged toward ending dependence in meeting the operational needs of the Ports and Maritime Organization. According to Brigadier General Hatami, the needs to be met under this memorandum include the very important areas of marine search and rescue, dredging, anti-pollution (pollutant-recovery), firefighting, passenger and recreational use, the transport of passengers, the supply of required port equipment such as night-vision cameras, and suitable vessels for the movement and dispatch of control officers. This memorandum was concluded with the aim of enhancing domestic capability, localizing the shipbuilding industry’s supply chain, creating jobs and reducing the outflow of foreign currency, as well as in line with policies to prevent maritime accidents — given the incidents that have occurred in the country, especially in the passenger-vessel sector — and following the letter from the Minister of Defense to the Minister of Roads and Urban Development and the latter’s agreement to the proposal. The objectives of this memorandum include joint cooperation in meeting the needs of the Ports and Maritime Organization, supporting domestic production and job creation, and ultimately realizing the slogan of the year. Other objectives include achieving desirable operational quality, meeting the needs of the Ports Organization to build a capable fleet for protection and prevention of sea hazards, completing the potential capacities of the Marine Industries Organization, and growth and excellence in various fields such as the design, construction and production of related vessels and special marine equipment and items for the lofty goals of the Ports and Maritime Organization. Under this memorandum, the financial budget foreseen by the Ports and Maritime Organization will be made available to the Marine Industries Organization until the end of the project for delivery of the vessels; the joint cooperation under this memorandum starts from its signing date — today (14 Bahman) — and is valid until the end of the year 1400. The main priorities announced by the Ports and Maritime Organization to the Marine Industries Organization for building vessels inside the country include creating a fleet of search-and-rescue and firefighting vessels, suitable vessels for the movement and dispatch of control officers, a fleet of dredgers and anti-pollution/pollutant-recovery vessels, building new recreational passenger vessels for tourism development, repairing the Ports and Maritime Organization’s vessels, building vessels for the marine protection unit and marine guard, rescue vessels, supplying special port equipment such as night-vision cameras and telecommunications equipment, and the design and construction of all the vessels of the Marine Industry Transformation Plan related to the Ports and Maritime Organization.

Fully Iranian vessels are built to support Iranian goods

At the ceremony to conclude the cooperation with the Ministry of Defense for building the 44 vessels needed by the Ports and Maritime Organization, the Minister of Roads and Urban Development said: this memorandum is a serious and valuable step toward supporting Iranian goods; the country’s needs are met through domestic capabilities, and with its signing a path will be taken to boost business in the marine field.

Also at the ceremony, Rear Admiral Rastegari — head of the Marine Industries Organization of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics — noting that the 44 required vessels will be built in 9 types in areas such as firefighting, passenger transport, support at anchorages and ports, dredging and anti-pollution/pollutant-recovery, and the movement and dispatch of control officers, said: this memorandum, with a budget equivalent to €140 million, will be carried out within three years by the Marine Industries Organization of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.

As the most integrated marine organization in the country, the Marine Industries Organization has the ability to build the required domestic vessels, infrastructure, and to supply spare parts and various devices and equipment; up to 70 percent of the 44 vessels to be built will be made by the Marine Industries Organization, and they can almost be called fully Iranian vessels delivered to the Ports and Maritime Organization.