By IPS Correspondents
ABU DHABI, Feb 26 2003 (IPS)

The first military vessel built for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navy by the Abu Dhabi Ship Building Co (ADSB) was commissioned yesterday by Staff Brigadier Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Commander of the Emiri Guards.

The 24-meter ‘Ghannatha’ is the first of 12 high speed transport vessels to be delivered in 18 months, according to a report in the ‘Gulf News’.

Built in cooperation with Swede Ship from Sweden, ‘Ghannatha’ is designed for combat troop transportation and has been built in a second version as a command, control and communication center. It completed all tests with flying colors, said ADSB managing director, Lawrence Holliday.

ADSB secured the contract from the UAE Armed Forces in January 2002, to construct 12 naval amphibious transport vessels. While nine of the vessels will be built in the UAE, the remaining three will be built in Sweden as part of a cooperation agreement and technology transfer program. Four vessels are currently under construction.

After hoisting the national flag on the vessel, Sheikh Nahyan and other dignitaries boarded the vessel for a trial run. Senior military personnel, VIPs and naval officers from Oman and Sweden were present.

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